Electrochemically driven phenothiazine modification of carbon nanodots

Carbon nanodots (CNDs) with enriched periphery carboxylic groups were synthesized using the low-cost starting material glucose. The obtained CNDs were assembled onto Au electrodes following one of two strategies: covalent bonding, using cystamine as a cross-linker, or by drop-casting. The immobilized CNDs were covalently modified with the phenothiazine Azure A via electron transfer chemistry; in particular via reactions with aryl diazonium salts. The reaction mechanism for the diazonium functionalization of CNDs was investigated. Spectroelectrochemistry experiments confirmed that electrografting, rather than adsorption, governs the functionalization of CNDs with Azure A. Finally, the application of these CNDs as electrocatalysts for the oxidation of hydrazine was demonstrated.