Local structural characterization of Au/Pt bimetallic nanoparticles

In this study, we examined the amount-dependent change in morphology for a series of Au/Pt bimetallic nanoparticles synthesized using chemical reduction. The Au/Pt molar ratio was varied from 1/1 to 1/4 to synthesize Pt shell layers with different thicknesses. We have obtained that these bimetallic nanoparticles can form flower-like nanoparticles. Moreover, an extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis was used to demonstrate the structure of Au/Pt bimetallic nanoparticles. The EXAFS results confirmed the formation of a core–shell structure and inter-diffusion between Au and Pt atoms. The composition of the shell layer was found to be Pt-enriched Au/Pt alloy.     

Pt/Au双金属纳米粒子的制备及表征

Poly (N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)-protected Pt/Au bimetallic nanoparticles were obtained by reducing the mixture of HAuCl4 and H2PtCl6 with sodium borohydride. UV-vis spectra, transmission electronic microscopy and X-my diffraction reveal that the prepared bimetallic nanoparticles are of alloy structure.     

Nanostructured Pt functionlized multiwalled carbon nanotube based hydrogen sensor

Nanostructured Pt functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) produced by catalytic chemical vapor deposition are good room-temperature hydrogen sensors. MWNTs have been synthesized by catalytic chemical vapor deposition of acetylene using a fixed-bed catalytic reactor over hydrides of Mm(0.2)Tb(0.8)CO2 obtained through hydrogen decrepitation technique. Purified and chemically treated MWNTs have been functionalized by Pt resulting in nanostructured dispersion of Pt on CNTs. Structural, morphological, and vibrational characterizations have been carried out using XRD, SEM, TEM, HRTEM, Raman spectroscopy, and FTIR spectroscopy, respectively. Dispersion of Pt on MWNTs was confirmed by elemental analysis using EDX. Systematic investigations of hydrogen sensing properties of Pt-MWNT ensembles have been carried out. The Pt-MWNTs thin films are stable after several cycles of adsorption and desorption. The change in electrical resistance due to hydrogen adsorption is reversible, with increases to saturation on exposure to hydrogen gas. The result demonstrates that the Pt-MWNTs are p-type semiconductor materials, and chemically treated MWNTs functionalized with Pt show the better hydrogen sensing response at room temperature.     

Electrochemical glucose biosensor based on silver nanoparticles/multiwalled carbon nanotubes modified electrode

A novel glucose biosensor was fabricated by immobilizing glucose oxidase (GOx) on Ag nanoparticles-decorated multiwalled carbon nanotube (AgNP-MWNT) modified glass carbon electrode (GCE). The AgNP-MWNT composite membrane showed an improving biocompatibility for GOx immobilization and an enhancing electrocatalytic activity toward reduction of oxygen due to decoration of AgNPs on MWNT surfaces. The AgNPs also accelerated the direct electron transfer between redox-active site of GOx and GCE surface because of their excellent conductivity and large capacity for protein loading, leading to direct electrochemistry of GOx. The glucose biosensor of this work showed a lower limit of detection of 0.01 mM (S/N?=?3) and a wide linear range from 0.025 to 1.0 mM, indicating an excellent analytical performance of the obtained biosensor to glucose detection. The resulting biosensor exhibits good stability and excellent reproducibility. Such bionanocomposite provides us good candidate material for fabrication of biosensors based on direct electrochemistry of immobilized enzymes.     

A non-enzymatic sensor for hydrogen peroxide based on polyaniline, multiwalled carbon nanotubes and gold nanoparticles modified Au electrode

We describe the construction of a polyaniline (PANI), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) modified Au electrode for determination of hydrogen peroxide without using peroxidase (HRP). The AuNPs/MWCNT/PANI composite film deposited on Au electrode was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical methods. Cyclic voltammetric (CV) studies of the electrode at different stages of construction demonstrated that the modified electrode had enhanced electrochemical oxidation of H(2)O(2), which offers a number of attractive features to develop amperometric sensors based on split of H(2)O(2). The amperometric response to H(2)O(2) showed a linear relationship in the range from 3.0 μM to 600.0 μM with a detection limit of 0.3 μM (S/N = 3) and with high sensitivity of 3.3 mA μM(-1). The sensor gave accurate and satisfactory results, when employed for determination of H(2)O(2) in milk and urine.     

Electrochemical determination of nitrite and iodate based on Pt nanoparticles self-assembled on a chitosan modified glassy carbon electrode

A promising electrochemical sensor was fabricated by the self-assembling of Pt nanoparticles (nano-Pts) on a chitosan (CS) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). A field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electrochemical techniques were used for characterization of these composites. It has been found that nano-Pts are inserted into the CS layer uniformly, and have a larger surface area compared to the chitosan modified glassy carbon electrode. Electrocatalytic experiments for the oxidation of nitrite and the reduction of iodate have shown that nano-Pts/CS/GCE can decrease the over-potential and increase the faradic current, which can be used for the sensitive determination of nitrite and iodate. Moreover, the prepared modified electrode exhibits good reproducibility and stability, and it is possible that this novel electrochemical sensor can be applied in the sensing and/or biosensing field.     

Aptamer based surface plasmon resonance sensor for aflatoxin B1

The authors describe a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based aptasensor for the carcinogenic mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in a direct assay format. The aptamer is immobilized on the surface of a commercial sensor chip, and the SPR signal increases on binding of AFB1. The sensor chip can be fully regenerated by passing a flow of buffer over it upon which bound AFB1 dissociates from the aptamer. The biosensor works in the 0.4 nM to 200 nM AFB1 concentration range and has a 0.4 nM detection limit. It allows AFB1 to be determined in complex samples such as diluted red wine and beer. The assay is sensitive, and the chip is easily regenerated and stable. The method therefore overcomes certain limitations of antibody-based SPR assays and of competitive SPR assays for AFB1.

Open image in new window

Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of the assay: Aptamer is coated on the chip of SPR, and the binding between aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and the aptamer on chip causes SPR responses, allowing sensitive detection of AFB1.

     

Fabrication of multiwalled carbon nanotubes/polyaniline modified Au electrode for ascorbic acid determination

An ascorbate oxidase (AsOx) (E.C.1.10.3.3) purified from Lagenaria siceraria fruit was immobilized covalently onto a carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes and polyaniline (c-MWCNT/PANI) layer electrochemically deposited on the surface of an Au electrode. The diffusion coefficient of ascorbic acid was determined as 3.05 × 10(-4) cm(2) s(-1). The behavior of different electrolytes on electro-deposition was also studied. An ascorbate biosensor was fabricated using a AsOx/c-MWCNT/PANI/Au electrode as a working electrode, Ag/AgCl (3 M/saturated KCl) as standard and Pt wire as an auxiliary electrode connected through a potentiostat. Linear range, response time and detection limit were 2-206 μM, 2 s and 0.9 μM respectively. The biosensor showed optimum response at pH 5.8 and in a broader temperature range (30-45 °C), when polarized at +0.6 V. The biosensor was employed for determination of ascorbic acid level in sera, fruit juices and vitamin C tablets. The sensor was evaluated with 91% recovery of added ascorbic acid in sera and 6.5% and 11.4% within and between batch coefficients of variation respectively for five serum samples. There was a good correlation (r = 0.98) between fruit juice ascorbic acid values by the standard 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPIP) method and the present method. The enzyme electrode was used 200 times over a period of two months, when stored at 4 °C. The biosensor has advantages over earlier enzyme sensors in that it has no leakage of enzyme, due to the covalent coupling of enzyme with the support, lower response time, wider working range, higher storage stability and no interference by serum substances.     

Multicolor immunochromatographic strip test based on gold nanoparticles for the determination of aflatoxin B1 and fumonisins

The authors describe the preparation of desert rose-like gold nanoparticles (DR-GNPs) with a plasmon resonance band at 620 nm which gives them a blue color. They have a hydrodynamic diameter of ～72 nm and were prepared by a seeding growth approach. The DR-GNPs were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. These nonspherical GNPs were used as a label for the antibody in an immunochromatographic strip test (ICST). Despite their particular shape and the higher surface area compared to spherical gold nanoparticles, the DR-GNPs are useful blue labels for the GNP-based strip test. A multicolor ICST for aflatoxin B1 and fumonisins is described that employs both blue DR-GNPs and red spherical GNPs. It allows for simultaneous rapid determination of the two mycotoxins in maize flour, with visual cut-off levels of 2 μg?kg^-1 for aflatoxin B1 and of 1000 μg?kg^-1 for fumonisins.

Open image in new window

Graphical abstract Blue desert rose-like gold nanoparticles (DR-GNPs) were synthesized, characterized and applied as label for the ImmunoChromatographic Strip Test (ICST) technique, in which red spherical GNPs (s-GNPs) are usually employed. The combined use of the blue DR-GNP and red s-GNPs allowed developing of an intuitive multicolor ICST for the simultaneous detection of aflatoxin B1 and fumonisins in maize flour.

     

Sputtering deposition of Pt nanoparticles on vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes for sensing L-cysteine

A highly sensitive electrochemical sensor for determination of L-cysteine (CySH) is presented. It is based on vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes modified with Pt nanoparticles by magnetron sputtering deposition. The morphology of the nanocomposite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive. The electrochemistry of CySH was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The mechanism for the electrochemical reaction of CySH at the modified electrode at different pH values is discussed. The electrode exhibits a higher electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of CySH than comparable other electrodes. It displays a linear dependence (R ²?=?0.9980) on the concentration of CySH in the range between 1 and 500 μM and at an applied potential of +0.45 V, a remarkably low detection limit of 0.5 μM (S/N?=?3), and an outstandingly high sensitivity of 1.42?×?10³ μA?mM^?1?cm^?2, which is the highest value ever reported. The electrode also is highly inert towards other amino acids, creatinine and urea. The sensor was applied to the determination of CySH in urine with satisfactory recovery, thus demonstrating its potential for practical applications.

Amperometric sulfite sensor based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes/ferrocene-branched chitosan composites

A novel amperometric sensor for the determination of sulfite was fabricated based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/ferrocene-branched chitosan (CHIT-Fc) composites-covered glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The electrochemical behavior of the sensor was investigated in detail by cyclic voltammetry. The apparent surface electron transfer rate constant (K_s) and charge transfer coefficient (α) of the CHIT-Fc/MWCNTs/GCE were also determined by cyclic voltammetry, which were about 1.93 cm s⁻¹ and 0.42, respectively. The sensor displayed good electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of sulfite. The peak potential for the oxidation of sulfite was lowered by at least 330 mV compared with that obtained at CHIT/MWCNTs/GCE. In optimal conditions, linear range spans the concentration of sulfite from 5 μM to 1.5 mM and the detection limit was 2.8 μM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The proposed method was used for the determination of sulfite in boiler water. In addition, the sensor has good stability and reproducibility.     

Sensitive determination of hydrazine using poly(phenolphthalein), Au nanoparticles and multiwalled carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode

This study reports a detailed analysis of an electrode material containing poly(phenolphthalein), carbon nanotubes and gold nanoparticles which shows superior catalytic effect towards to hydrazine oxidation in Britton–Robinson buffer (pH 10.0). Glassy carbon electrode was modified by electropolymerization of phenolphthalein (PP) monomer (poly(PP)/GCE) and the multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was dropped on the surface. This modified surface was electrodeposited with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs/CNT/poly(PP)/GCE). The fabricated electrode was analysed the determination of hydrazine using cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry and amperometry. The peak potential of hydrazine oxidation on bare GCE, poly(PP)/GCE, CNT/GCE, CNT/poly(PP)/GCE, and AuNPs/CNT/poly(PP)/GCE were observed at 596 mV, 342 mV, 320 mV, 313 mV, and 27 mV, respectively. A shift in the overpotential to more negative direction and an enhancement in the peak current indicated that the AuNPs/CNT/poly(PP)/GC electrode presented an efficient electrocatalytic activity toward oxidation of hydrazine. Modified electrodes were characterized with High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Amperometric current responses in the low hydrazine concentration range of 0.25–13 µM at the AuNPs/CNT/poly(PP)/GCE. The limit of detection (LOD) value was obtained to be 0.083 µM. A modified electrode was applied to naturel samples for hydrazine determination.     

Nonenzymatic amperometric sensor of hydrogen peroxide and glucose based on Pt nanoparticles/ordered mesoporous carbon nanocomposite

A simple and facile synthetic method to incorporate Pt nanoparticles inside the mesopores of ordered mesoporous carbons (OMCs) is reported. The Pt/OMCs nanocomposite was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption. The results show that the incorporation of Pt nanoparticles inside the pores of OMCs does not change the highly ordered two-dimensional hexagonal mesostructure of OMCs matrix. Nonenzymatic amperometric sensor of hydrogen peroxide and glucose based on the Pt/OMCs nanocomposite-modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode is developed. Compared with the original OMCs-modified electrode, the Pt/OMCs-modified electrode displays improved current response towards hydrogen peroxide and gives linear range from 2 to 4212 μM. At an applied potential of −0.08 V, the Pt/OMCs nanocomposite gives linearity in the range of 0.5-4.5 mM glucose in neutral buffered saline solution. This glucose sensor also exhibits good ability of anti-interference to electroactive molecules. The combination the unique properties of Pt nanoparticles and the ordered mesostructure of OMCs matrix guarantees the enhanced response for hydrogen peroxide and glucose.     

Advantages of immobilization of Pt nanoparticles protected by dendrimers on multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs) were synthesized in the presence of a NH(2)-terminated fourth generation poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) dendrimer as a stabilizer at different molar ratios (M:D) of metal precursor to amine terminal group of dendrimer. Subsequently, PtNPs protected by dendrimers (DENPtNPs) were covalently immobilized on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by using a condensing agent for amide bond formation between acid-treated MWCNTs and DENPtNPs and the product CNT/DENPtNPs were characterized. PtNPs on MWCNTs increased quantitatively in content with M:D and dispersed with same aspect as the dispersion of DENPtNPs in water: PtNPs homogeneously dispersed at low M:D ratio and slightly aggregated at high ratio. The decomposition of CNT/DENPtNPs occurred at the lower temperature owing to the catalytic effect of PtNPs. A near-infrared absorption band around 2083 nm, which is extremely weak for MWCNTs, was intensified and D, D' and G Raman bands were slightly downshifted when DENPtNPs were attached. These phenomena can be attributed to the electron transfer from DENPtNPs to MWCNTs. Remarkable advantage is apparent from the enhanced electrochemical behavior of CNT/DENPtNPs loaded on gold electrode. PtNPs promoted the electron transfer of MWCNTs and dendrimers contributed to uptake of redox materials.     

Fabrication of an electrochemical sensor based on the electrodeposition of Pt nanoparticles on multiwalled carbon nanotubes film for voltammetric determination of ceftriaxone in the presence of lidocaine, assisted by factorial-based response-surface methodology

A glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is modified with platinum nanoparticle (PtNPs) decorated multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT). The modified electrode is applied for the determination of ceftriaxone (CFX) in the presence of lidocaine. Different methods were used to characterize the surface morphology of the modified electrode. The electrochemical behavior of CFX was investigated at GCE, MWCNT/GCE and PtNPs/MWCNT/GCE. A factorial-based response-surface methodology was used to find out the optimum conditions with minimum number of experiments. Under the optimized conditions, oxidation peak currents increased linearly with CFX concentration in the range of 0.01–10.00 μM with a detection limit of 9.01 nM. The results prove that the modified electrode is also suitable for the determination of CFX in pharmaceutical and clinical preparations.     

无电沉积法AuNPs-MWCNTs的制备及其对黄酮类化合物的电化学催化性能研究

利用多壁碳纳米管具有较低的还原电位,以多壁碳纳米管作为还原剂和负载基底,通过无电沉积法制备了负载纳米金粒子的碳纳米管催化剂。此种材料具有更多的活性位点,避免了纳米金粒子表面保护剂的存在造成其催化活性降低的缺陷,发现其对典型黄酮类化合物-芦丁和黄芩苷具有良好的电化学催化性能和较高的灵敏度,并将其应用于电化学分析检测黄酮类化合物。     

Electrochemical immunosensor for determination of aflatoxin B1 in barley

This paper reports the assembly of a disposable electrochemical immunosensor based on the indirect competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), for simple and fast measurement of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) in barley using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The immunosensor strip was assembled immobilising the biological component (i.e. the AFB₁ conjugated to bovine serum albumin, incubation the sample (or standard) with the monoclonal antibody anti-AFB₁ (MAb). A spectrophotometric ELISA was used in a preliminary phase of development, prior to transferring the assay to the SPEs.

Results showed a detection limit of 20 and 30 pg/mL for the spectrophotometric ELISA and the electrochemical immunosensor, respectively.

The extraction efficiency and the matrix effect have been evaluated by spiking blank barley with AFB₁ before and after the sample treatment. After treatment, samples were analysed using a 1:10 (v/v) dilution in PBS (phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.4) in order to minimise the matrix effect. Good recoveries were obtained, which demonstrated the suitability of the proposed method for routine screening of AFB₁ in barley.     

Multiplex electrochemiluminescence DNA sensor for determination of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus based on multicolor quantum dots and Au nanoparticles

In this work, a novel multiplex electrochemiluminescence (ECL) DNA sensor has been developed for determination of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) based on multicolor CdTe quantum dots (CdTe QDs) and Au nanoparticles (Au NPs). The electrochemically synthesized graphene nanosheets (GNs) were selected as conducting bridge to anchor CdTe QDs₅₅₁-capture DNA_HBV and CdTe QDs₆₀₇-capture DNA_HCV on the glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Then, different concentrations of target DNA_HBV and target DNA_HCV were introduced to hybrid with complementary CdTe QDs-capture DNA. Au NPs-probe DNA_HBV and Au NPs-probe DNA_HCV were modified to the above composite film via hybrid with the unreacted complementary CdTe QDs-capture DNA. Au NPs could quench the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) intensity of CdTe QDs due to the inner filter effect. Therefore, the determination of target DNA_HBV and target DNA_HCV could be achieved by monitoring the ECL DNA sensor based on Au NPs-probe DNA/target DNA/CdTe QDs-capture DNA/GNs/GCE composite film. Under the optimum conditions, the ECL intensity of CdTe QDs₅₅₁ and CdTe QDs₆₀₇ and the concentration of target DNA_HBV and target DNA_HCV have good linear relationship in the range of 0.0005–0.5 nmol L⁻¹ and 0.001–1.0 nmol L⁻¹ respectively, and the limit of detection were 0.082 pmol L⁻¹ and 0.34 pmol L⁻¹ respectively (S/N = 3). The DNA sensor showed good sensitivity, selectivity, reproducibility and acceptable stability. The proposed DNA sensor has been employed for the determination of target DNA_HBV and target DNA_HCV in human serum samples with satisfactory results.     

Highly sensitive sensor for detection of NADH based on catalytic growth of Au nanoparticles on glassy carbon electrode

In this work, an electrochemical dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) sensor based on the catalytic growth of Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) on glassy carbon electrode was developed. Catalyzed by Au NPs immobilized on pretreated glassy carbon electrode, the reduction of AuCl₄ ^? in the presence of hydroquinone and cetyltrimethyl ammonium chloride led to the formation of enlarged Au NPs on the electrode surface. Spectrophotometry and high-resolution scanning electronic microscope (SEM) analysis of the sensor morphologies before and after biocatalytic reaction revealed a diameter growth of the nanoparticles. The catalytic growth of Au NPs on electrode surface remarkably facilitated the electron transfer and improved the performance of the sensor. Under optimal conditions, NADH could be detected in the range from 1.25?×?10^?6 to 3.08?×?10^?4 M, and the detection limit was 2.5?×?10^?7 M. The advantages of the proposed sensor, such as high precision and sensitivity, fast response, low cost, and good storage stability, made it suitable for on-line detection of NADH in complex biological systems and contaminant degradation processes.

Pt and Pt–Ru nanoparticles decorated polypyrrole/multiwalled carbon nanotubes and their catalytic activity towards methanol oxidation

Conducting polymer composite films comprised of polypyrrole (PPy) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) [PPy–CNT] were synthesized by in situ polymerization of pyrrole on carbon nanotubes in 0.1 M HCl containing (NH₄)S₂O₈ as oxidizing agent over a temperature range of 0–5 °C. Pt nanoparticles are deposited on PPy–CNT composite films by chemical reduction of H₂PtCl₆ using HCHO as reducing agent at pH = 11 [Pt/PPy–CNT]. The presence of MWCNTs leads to higher activity, which might be due to the increase of electrochemically accessible surface areas, electronic conductivity and easier charge-transfer at polymer/electrolyte interfaces allowing higher dispersion and utilization of the deposited Pt nanoparticles. A comparative investigation was carried out using Pt–Ru nanoparticles decorated PPy–CNT composites. Cyclic voltammetry demonstrated that the synthesized Pt–Ru/PPy–CNT catalysts exhibited higher catalytic activity for methanol oxidation than Pt/PPy–CNT catalyst. Such kinds of Pt and Pt–Ru particles deposited on PPy–CNT composite polymer films exhibit excellent catalytic activity and stability towards methanol oxidation, which indicates that the composite films is more promising support material for fuel cell applications.