A short review on the analysis of the adsorptive behavior of surfactants at carbon paste electrodes for electrochemical sensing.

[Display omitted] • Surfactant-modified electrodes: Characterization and applications (Modifications & applications) • Theoretical chemistry aiding experimental design in surfactant modification (Theory guiding design) • Enhanced detection in real samples with surfactant-modified electrodes (Improved detection in samples) • The synergy of theory and experiment optimizing surfactant-modified electrodes (Theory-experiment synergy) • Advancing electrode performance through theoretical insights (Theory-driven performance) Surfactants are a class of materials known to decrease surface tension at the carbon paste electrode (CPE) interface. So utilizing its adsorption property, an increase in surface area and electroactive sites is observed. Hence, are employed to modify the electrode surface and change its nature for faster electron transfer kinetics. Owing to these properties, surfactant-modified electrodes have been employed for the detection of various important biomolecules (dopamine, DA; epinephrine, uric acid, UA; and ascorbic acid, AA), drugs (ciprofloxacin, acetaminophen, diclofenac, etc.) and pollutants such as chlorophenol and bisphenol-A and various ions (Cu2+, NO 3 –, PO 4 3−, SO 4 2−), etc. Among all the electrodes surfactant attachment to CPE is not only advantageous in terms of low toxicity, cost, maintenance, and easy preparation but also the hygroscopic surface of carbon paste with silicon oil provides easy fabrication of surfactant at the electrode surface. This enables the formation of an electroactive interface with enhanced surface area. Therefore, the current article highlights the mechanism of adsorption and the role of surfactants at the CPE for electrochemical sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]