Assembly of Ni(OH)2 nanoparticle films on aqueous surfaces induced by small amounts of toluene, and the study of their unmediated electrocatalytic oxidation toward some small biomolecules.

A simple strategy for the preparation of a Ni(OH)2 nanoparticle film is described. Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles were synthesized in an aqueous solution of Ni2+ and tert-butylamine in the presence of small amounts of toluene, which induced the nanoparticles to assemble a thin film on the aqueous surface. The obtained Ni(OH)2 nanoparticle film was easily transferred onto the electrode surfaces and exhibited stable electrochemical performance. The electrochemical behavior of various small biomolecules, including cysteine, homocysteine, glutathione, histidine, glycine, cystine, methionine, lysine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, phenylalanine, ascorbic acid, uric acid and dopamine, were studied at the Ni(OH)2 nanoparticle-film-modified electrode. The Ni(OH)2 nanoparticle film exhibits excellent direct, unmediated electrocatalysis toward the oxidation of cysteine, homocysteine and ascorbic acid in a pH 7.4 buffer solution with a low onset potential and a high oxidation signal. This behavior differs from many reports in which small organic molecules are electrocatalyzed indirectly by the Ni(OH)2/NiOOH redox couple in a strongly alkaline solution.