Carbon Nanofibers for Mass-Producible Electrochemical Transducers for Point-of-Care Testing

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) possess inherent 3D-porous architecture that facilitates the development of highly sensitive electrochemical transducers. Their fabrication via laser-induced carbonization provides advantages such as mass production capability, outstanding electroanalytical performance, and preserved full beneficial features even when integrated into miniaturized systems. Moreover, the overall manufacturing cost is relatively low in comparison to conventional techniques, making the laser-generated CNFs favorable as electrochemical transducers in point-of-care testing (POCT). This review highlights the key studies representing the formation of CNF electrodes and their functional hybrids realized from laser-carbonization technology, which reflect a clear new trend in the field. The morphologies of laser-generated CNF electrodes from various substrates, how they can be conveniently integrated into POCT devices, and their superior analytical performance are discussed. The mass-producible 3D-porous CNF electrodes via laser carbonization will pave the way for efficient translation into the next generation of POCT devices, not only for sensing but also for self-powering devices.