Microwave Synthesis and Characterization of a Silver–Poly (Amide Amine) Dendrimer Nanocomposite with Application as a Hydrogen Peroxide Sensor

Abstract

A novel procedure to fabricate a nonenzymatic hydrogen peroxide sensor was developed based on a silver-poly (amide amine) dendrimer nanocomposite synthesized by a microwave procedure. The formation of silver nanoparticles functionalized with the poly (amide amine) dendrimer was confirmed by ultraviolet visible spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The electroanalytical properties of a glassy carbon electrode modified with the silver-poly (amide amine) dendrimer nanocomposite were evaluated by the determination of hydrogen peroxide. The electrochemical sensor exhibited rapid response and high sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide with a linear dynamic range from 1.0 × 10–5 to 3.7 × 10–3 molar (r = 0.998) and a limit of detection of 5.06 micromolar. The sensitivity was 30.24 microampere · per millilmolar per square centimeter and the response time was three seconds at a working potential of −0.35 volt. In addition, the sensor was unaffected by the presence of ascorbic acid, citric acid, and oxalic acid. These results indicate that the silver-poly (amide amine) dendrimer nanocomposite based sensor has application for the determination of hydrogen peroxide.