Electrochemical synthesis of composite materials based on titanium carbide and titanium dioxide with poly(N-phenyl-o-phenylenediamine) for selective detection of uric acid

Abstract

• TiC/TiO 2 -polymer composites synthesis by electrochemical methods in one step. • Tunable electrocatalytic activity towards ascorbic and uric oxidation. • Selective detection of uric acid in presence of ascorbic acid with no interference effects. Synthesis of electrode materials for accurate detection and quantification of uric acid without the interference effect of ascorbic acid is still considered an important field for health monitoring in human beings. As we present here, a methodology of composite materials synthesis have been developed to obtain electroactive materials, employing electrochemical methods in a single step based on titanium carbide and titanium dioxide entrapped into a polymer matrix of poly( N -phenyl- o -phenylenediamine). The presence of the TiC and TiO 2 nanoparticles entrapped into the polymer matrix has provided enhancement in the conductivity, electron transfer kinetics and electrochemical activity towards uric acid oxidation. The electrochemical behavior of the composite materials towards ascorbic and uric acid oxidation demonstrated that electrochemical oxidation of uric acid has not been affected by the presence of ascorbic acid in solution, being a suitable platform for non-invasive detection and quantification of uric acid concentration in physiological samples without the interference of ascorbic acid.