Toward scalable fabrication of electrochemical paper sensor without surface functionalization

Here we report a composite paper electrode that is fabricated through designed papermaking using cellulose, carbon fibers (CF), and graphene oxide (GO). The composite paper has well-controlled structure, stable, and repeatable properties, and offers the electrocatalytic activities for sensitive and selective chemical detection.

We demonstrate that this CF/GO/cellulose composite paper can be reduced electrochemically using relatively mild conditions and this GO reduction confers electrocatalytic properties to the composite paper. Finally, we demonstrate that this composite paper offers sensing performance (sensitivity and selectivity) comparable to, or better than, paper-based sensors prepared by small-batch surface-modification (e.g., printing) methods.