Layer-by-layer assembled multilayer of graphene/Prussian blue toward simultaneous electrochemical and SPR detection of H2O2

A new type of chemically converted graphene sheets, cationic polyelectrolyte-functionalized ionic liquid decorated graphene sheets (PFIL-GS) composite, was synthesized and characterized by Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption, Fourier transform infrared, and Raman spectroscopy. It was found that the presence of PFIL enabled the formation of a very stable aqueous dispersion due to the electrostatic repulsion between PFIL modified graphene sheets. With respect to the excellent dispersibility of this material, we have fabricated a novel PFIL-GS/Prussian blue (PB) nanocomposite multilayer film via classic layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly. The assembly process was confirmed by UV-vis spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy, which showed linear responses to the numbers of the deposited PFIL-GS/PB bilayers. Moreover, the as-prepared composite films were used to detect hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) by electrochemical surface plasmon resonance (EC-SPR) spectroscopy. This real time EC-SPR technique can provide simultaneous monitoring of both optical SPR signal and electrochemical current responses upon injecting H₂O₂ into the reaction cell. The experimental results revealed that both the electrochemical and SPR signal exhibited splendid linear relationship to the concentration of the injected H₂O₂, and the detection limit could be up to 1 μM.