Assembly and electroanalytical performance of Prussian blue/polypyrrole composite nanoparticles synthesized by the...

We report on the characterization, assembly and electroanalytical performance of Prussian blue/polypyrrole (PBPPy) composite nanoparticles synthesized by the reverse micelle method. Scanning electron microscopy suggests the formation of nanosized PBPPy particles with diameters between 40 and 50 nm. Optical absorption confirms that the particles are composed of Prussian blue (PB) and polypyrrole. PB and PBPPy nanoparticles were anchored onto the surface of cysteine-modified Au electrodes. Cyclic voltammetry experiments show that PB- or PBPPy-modified electrodes exhibit intrinsic electrochemical properties and a high electrocatalytic activity towards H₂O₂. PBPPy-modified electrodes exhibit a higher sensitivity to H₂O₂ than PB-modified electrodes. A linear calibration curve in the concentration range 0.99 μM-8.26 mM H₂O₂ is constructed with a detection limit of 0.23 μM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. Excellent stability is observed for PBPPy-composite-nanoparticle-modified electrodes even in a pH 6 phosphate buffer solution with a high H₂O₂ concentration (0.99 mM). Glutaraldehyde and [Formula: see text] were also employed to immobilize glucose oxidase for the development of PBPPy-based biosensors. The results show that PBPPy composite nanoparticles can be used to develop oxidase-based biosensors.