Review on nanomaterials-enabled electrochemical sensors for ascorbic acid detection

This review (with 307 refs.) addresses the recent advances in electrochemical nonenzymatic ascorbic acid (AA) sensors using various nanomaterials as sensing elements. In general, nanomaterials have paved the way for a novel and advanced sensing device due to their unique physical and chemical properties. AA sensors based on noble metals, their nanoparticles, transition metals/metal nanoparticles, alloys/bimetallic nanoparticles, conducting polymers and carbon nanomaterials have been reviewed. Also, there has been a focus on describing the details of many significant articles explaining the design of sensors and utilities of the prepared sensors, so that readers might get the principles behind such devices and relevant detection strategies. Finally, the challenges and prospects for the application of nanomaterials-enabled electrochemical sensors for AA analysis have also been incorporated. Schematic representation of electrochemical oxidation of ascorbic acid on nanomaterials modified electrode. [Display omitted] •This review presents an overview of the recent developments in non-enzymatic electrochemical ascorbic acid sensors.•The principles of electrochemical detection of ascorbic acid are discussed.•The oxidation mechanism of ascorbic acid on various nanomaterials modified electrodes are presented.•The advantages and challenges of nanomaterials modified electrodes are discussed.•The prospect of real sample analysis using non-enzymatic electrochemical ascorbic acid sensors is described.