Self-assembly of palladium nanoparticles on functional TiO2 nanotubes for a nonenzymatic glucose sensor.

Polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride, PDDA, was used as a stabilizer and linker for functionalized TiO2 nanotubes (TiO2 NTs). Self-assembled process with palladium nanoparticles (NPs) was successfully synthesized and used for the oxidation of glucose on glassy carbon electrodes. Based on the voltammetric and amperometric results, Pd NPs efficiently catalyzed the oxidation of glucose at -0.05 V in the presence of 0.1 M NaCl and showed excellent resistance toward interference poisoning from such interfering species as ascorbic acid, uric acid and urea. To further increase sensitivity, the Pd NPs-PDDA-TiO2 NTs/GCE was electrochemically treated with H2SO4 and NaOH, the glucose oxidation current was magnified 2.5 times than that before pretreatments due to greatly enhancing the electron transport property of the sensor based on the increased defect sites and surface oxide species. In view of the physiological level of glucose, the wide linear concentration range of glucose (4×10(-7)-8×10(-4)M) with a detection limit of 8×10(-8)M (S/N=3) was obviously good enough for clinical application.

A bisphenol A sensor based on novel self-assembly of zinc phthalocyanine tetrasulfonic acid-functionalized graphene nanocomposites.

In this work, a novel zinc phthalocyanine tetrasulfonic acid (ZnTsPc)-functionalized graphene nanocomposites (f-GN) was synthesized by a simple and efficient electrostatic self-assembly method, where the positive charged GN decorated by (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) was self-assemblied with ZnTsPc, a two dimensional (2-D) molecules. It not only enhanced its stability for the hybrid structure, but also avoided the reaggregation of ZnTsPc or f-GN themselves. Based on layered ZnTsPc/f-GN nanocomposites modified glassy carbon electrode, a rapid and sensitive sensor was developed for the determination of bisphenol A (BPA). Under the optimal conditions, the oxidation peak current increased linearly with the concentration of BPA in the range of 5.0×10(-8) to 4.0×10(-6)M with correlation coefficient 0.998 and limits of detection 2.0×10(-8)M. Due to high absorption nature for BPA and electron deficiency on ZnTsPc/f-GN, it presented the unique electron pathway arising from π-π stackable interaction during redox process for detecting BPA. The sensor exhibited remarkable long-term stability, good anti-interference and excellent electrocatalytic activity towards BPA detection.

Preparation of novel silver nanoplates/graphene composite and their application in vanillin electrochemical detection.

Hexagonal Ag nanoplates (NPs) were synthesized by polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and trisodium citrate (TSC) which selectively absorbed to Ag (100) and Ag (111) surfaces, then were anchored to graphene (GN) to form novel Ag NPs/GN composite. The thickness of Ag NPs is ~4 nm and the length is 18-66 nm. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image shows that the plates are f-c-c crystals containing {111} facets on their two planar surfaces. Zeta potential indicated that the surface of Ag NPs/GN is negatively charged while vanillin is positively charged. Thus Ag NPs/GN modified on glass carbon electrodes (GCE) allowed abundant adsorption for vanillin and electron transfer between vanillin and Ag NPs/GN/GCE. Square wave voltammetry (SWV) results indicated that the over potential on Ag NPs/GN/GCE negatively shifts 52 mV than that on Ag NPs/GCE. Ag NPs/GN with enhanced surface area and good conductivity exhibited an excellent electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of vanillin. The corresponding linear range was estimated to be from 2 to 100 µM (R(2)=0.998), and the detection limit is 3.32×10(-7) M (S/N=3). The as-prepared vanillin sensor exhibits good selectivity and potential application in practical vanillin determination.