Enhanced electrochemical nitrite sensing based on a gold nanoparticle decorated two-dimensional reduced graphene
Qingfang Niu1, Xiuying Peng2, Junzhe Meng1
1Institute of Environmental Science, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China.
Abstract:
An electrochemical nitrite sensor was developed by fabricating a ternary nanocomposite of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) anchored on two-dimensional reduced graphene oxide/graphitic carbon nitride (rGO/g-C3N4@AuNPs). The g-C3N4 layer functions as a linker that evenly distributes across the rGO substrate and modulates the growth of gold nanoparticles. Numerous AuNPs are uniformly and tightly anchored on rGO/g-C3N4, ensuring excellent electrical conductivity and efficient catalytic performance. Benefiting from the synergy effect of rGO/g-C3N4 and a high loading of Au NPs, the developed sensor demonstrated exceptional nitrite detection capabilities through differential pulse voltammetry and amperometry, achieving satisfactory analytical performances in terms of the linear range, limit of detection (LOD), sensitivity, selectivity, and stability. Moreover, this sensor was utilized to monitor the nitrite content in various food samples, including ham, milk, and vegetables. The results suggest that high-temperature cooking of Toona sinensis is beneficial to the removal of nitrite. This proposed sensor presents a novel approach for nitrite detection that is feasible for actual application.
