A novel platform based on graphene nanoribbons/protein capped Au-Cu bimetallic nanoclusters: Application to the sensitive electrochemical determination of bisphenol A

Abstract

BSA templated Au-Cu bimetallic nanoclusters (Au-Cu@BSA) were synthesized. The characteristics of the prepared bimetallic nanoclusters were demonstrated by UV–Vis absorption, fluorescence spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy. The Au-Cu@BSA was mixed by graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) and Au-Cu@BSA-GNRs was applied as a modifier of glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Also, the properties of the prepared sensors were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, square wave anodic stripping voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Au-Cu@BSA-GNRs/GCE was employed for the low cost, high efficiency, rapid, selective and sensitive determination of bisphenol A (BPA) as an effective sensing layer of the electrochemical sensor. Upon the optimization of chemical and instrumental parameters, including pH, deposition potential and time, the oxidation peak current was linearly dependent on the concentration of BPA. The dynamic ranges of BPA were linear between 0.01 to 2.0 and 2.0 to 70 μmol L−1, with a limit of detection 0.004 μmol L−1. The Au-Cu@BSA-GNRs/GCE has high selectivity, stability, repeatability, and reproducibility. These results suggest that the constructed sensor has an excellent capacity as an alternative to routine analysis methods for the determination of BPA. The constructed electrode was used for electrochemical determination of BPA in tap water, bottled water, baby bottle and food storage container by the standard addition method. The obtained results indicate the ability of the proposed method to detect BPA in different real sample matrices.