Emerging Considerations for the Future Development of Electrochemical Paper‐Based Analytical Devices

Abstract

Meeting the current needs for easier, more precise and faster analyses that also follow the principles of green analytical chemistry requires novel analytical chemistry strategies. Since the appearance in this century of the first device based on a paper platform, many studies have been presented in the literature, providing a wide range of designs and possibilities for the application of paper platforms to electroanalytical systems. This Review gives an overview of the field and can pave the way for the future development of electrochemical paper‐based analytical devices. We also present a critical point of view regarding what has been investigated and developed and what is still missing. This Review discusses the efforts made in the field related to important topics such as the choice of the paper substrate, the device construction process, the characterization of the device, and applications in different areas. In this way, we indicate some steps necessary for optimizing the design of the devices, with a focus on multidisciplinary collaborations that could move entire systems from the bench of the laboratory to the field.

Structure, Properties, and Electrochemical Sensing Applications of Graphene‐Based Materials

“…[139] Electrochemical sensors are simple and miniaturized devices that can be used to detect small amounts of widely spread environmental pollutants. [140,141] Some of these electrochemical devices combined with high-standard materials, such as graphene and its derivatives, present great potential for environmental applications. [1,133] Herein, we emphasize several studies that have described the environmental applications of graphene, GO, and rGO for monitoring water quality [142] and detecting food colorants, toxic substances, [143] and hazardous ions.…”

Paper‐Based Microfluidics for Electrochemical Applications

“…As shown in Table 1, Whatman grade 1 chromatography paper appears to be the most-used paper in fabricating the paperbased microfluidic electrochemical sensing devices, because it is commercially available, easy to be modified and exhibits good wicking properties. [42] More detailed information will be given in the following content.…”

Nanomaterial‐Modified Conducting Paper: Fabrication, Properties, and Emerging Biomedical Applications

“…The performance of paper‐based device depends on the various properties such as surface roughness, mechanical strength, ink absorbance, and composition . Paper has a high surface‐to‐volume ratio that allows storage of increased amount of reagents.…”

“…For biosensor application, it is recommended that paper should have properties to transport fluid flow, high surface to volume ratio, efficient conductivity, and mechanical strength during electrochemical measurements. The most commonly used paper is filter/chromatography paper #1 that consists of 98% of α‐cellulose, uniformity on both sides, medium flow rate, and 0.18 mm thick 10a. Further surface modification/treatment helps to attach desired biomolecules covalently on paper surface for enhanced biosensor performance.…”

“…Cell walls of cellulose fibers consist of smaller fibrils. These smaller fibrils comprise of microfibril, hemicellulose, and lignin 10c,11,14. The microfibrils are crystalline in nature and are mostly composed of cellulose ((C 6 H 10 O 5 ) n ) and cellulose molecules that consist of a linear chain of D‐glucose units that are linked together by β(1→4) glycosidic bond.…”