Reduced graphene oxide–gold nanorod composite material stabilized in silicate sol–gel matrix for nitric oxide sensor

Abstract

A facile synthetic method for the preparation of reduced graphene oxide–gold nanorods embedded in an amine functionalized silicate sol–gel matrix (RGO–Au–TPDT NRs) composite in an aqueous medium and its applications towards the electrochemical sensing of nitric oxide (NO) are reported. The electrochemical characteristics of the RGO–Au–TPDT NRs modified electrode are studied by using cyclic voltammetry. The electrocatalysis and amperometric sensing of NO are studied at physiological pH by using the RGO–Au–TPDT NRs modified electrode. The RGO–Au–TPDT NRs modified electrode shows excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of NO due to the synergistic catalytic effect of the RGO–Au–TPDT NRs composite material. The amperometric current is increased linearly while increasing the NO concentration in the range between 10 and 140 nM and the lowest detection limit is estimated as 6.5 nM. The GC–RGO–Au–TPDT NRs modified electrode is simple to prepare and shows fast amperometric response towards NO detection.