Silver nanoparticles-embedded poly(1-naphthylamine) nanospheres for low-cost non-enzymatic electrochemical H2O2 sensor

Abstract

In this work, a novel nanocomposite containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) embedded poly(1-naphthylamine) nanospheres (Ag/PNA) was prepared by in situ chemical reduction of silver nitrate. The structure, composition, and morphology of the prepared Ag/PNA nanocomposites were established by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The electrochemical properties of the PNA and Ag/PNA-modified carbon paste electrodes were analyzed using cyclic voltammetry (cyclic voltammogram) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It is observed that the electrochemical and charge transfer characteristics of PNA have significantly enhanced upon the incorporation of AgNPs. The prepared Ag/PNA nanocomposite has shown impressive electrocatalytic and electrochemical sensing performance toward H2O2. Remarkably, the present Ag/PNA-based enzymeless voltammetric H2O2 sensor showed a wide detection range in the concentration range of 1–3000 μM with a lower detection limit of 0.972 μM. The study revealed that Ag/PNA-modified carbon paste electrodes are an ideal platform for the fabrication of low-cost non-enzymatic H2O2 sensor with high sensitivity, good reproducibility, better selectivity, and stability.