Low-cost fabrication of graphene ball electrodes for the amperometric detection of capillary electrophoresis

Graphene-coated anion exchange resin (AER) spheres were facilely prepared based on the electrostatic interaction between graphene oxide and AER and subsequent chemical reduction. They were embedded in the bores of polypropylene pipette tips to fabricate graphene ball electrodes for the amperometric detection of capillary electrophoresis. The feasibility and performance of the novel electrodes were demonstrated by measuring parabens in combination with micellar electrokinetic chromatography. The advantages of the electrodes include higher sensitivity, favorable signal-to-background characteristics, low expense of fabrication, ease of operation, and satisfactory reproducibility, indicating great promise for a wide range of applications. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.