Sonochemical and sustainable synthesis of graphene-gold (G-Au) nanocomposites for enzymeless and selective electrochemical detection of nitric oxide.
In this study, a sonochemical approach was utilised for the development of graphene-gold (G-Au) nanocomposite. Through the sonochemical method, simultaneous exfoliation of graphite and the reduction of gold chloride occurs to produce highly crystalline G-Au nanocomposite. The in situ growth of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) took place on the surface of exfoliated few-layer graphene sheets. The G-Au nanocomposite was characterised by UV-vis, XRD, FTIR, TEM, XPS and Raman spectroscopy techniques. This G-Au nanocomposite was used to modify glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to fabricate an electrochemical sensor for the selective detection of nitric oxide (NO), a critical cancer biomarker. G-Au modified GCE exhibited an enhanced electrocatalytic response towards the oxidation of NO as compared to other control electrodes. The electrochemical detection of NO was investigated by linear sweep voltammetry analysis, utilising the G-Au modified GCE in a linear range of 10-5000μM which exhibited a limit of detection of 0.04μM (S/N=3). Furthermore, this enzyme-free G-Au/GCE exhibited an excellent selectivity towards NO in the presence of interferences. The synergistic effect of graphene and AuNPs, which facilitated exceptional electron-transfer processes between the electrolyte and the GCE thereby improving the sensing performance of the fabricated G-Au modified electrode with stable and reproducible responses. This G-Au nanocomposite introduces a new electrode material in the sensitive and selective detection of NO, a prominent biomarker of cancer.
Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (NATAM), Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia.
Renu
R
Geetha Bai
Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (NATAM), Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia.
Kasturi
K
Muthoosamy
School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
Meifang
M
Zhou
School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia. Electronic address: masho@unimelb.edu.au.
Muthupandian
M
Ashokkumar
Low Dimensional Materials Research Centre, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Nay Ming
NM
Huang
Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (NATAM), Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: Sivakumar.Manickam@nottingham.edu.my.
Sivakumar
S
Manickam
D002384:Catalysis; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D004867:Equipment Design; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D013010:Sonication / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D006046:Gold; D006108:Graphite
Electrochemical sensor; Gold nanoparticles; Graphene; Nanocomposite; Nitric oxide; Sonochemical