Amperometric sensing of nitrite using a glassy carbon electrode modified with a multilayer consisting of carboxylated nanocrystalline cellulose and poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium) ions in a PEDOT host

Negatively charged carboxylated nanocrystalline cellulose (CNCC) and positively charged poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDDA) were alternatingly assembled on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode to form a relatively uniform polyelectrolyte multilayer nanocomposite (CNCC/PDDA) n . It was then incorporated into a matrix of conducting poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) electrodeposited on the surface of the electrode. The nanocomposites were prepared in various ratios of PEDOT and (CNCC/PDDA), and then characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and differential pulse voltammetry. The PEDOT/(CNCC/PDDA) 4 nanocomposite showed the lowest electrochemical impedance and best electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of nitrite. Based on these findings, an amperometric sensor was developed which, if operated at 0.80 V (vs. SCE), can detect nitrite in the 0.2 μM to 1.73 mM concentration range with a 57 nM detection limit. Graphical abstract Carboxylated nanocrystalline cellulose (CNCC) and poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDDA) were assembled to nanocomposite (CNCC/PDDA) n . Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) was electrodeposited on the surface of (CNCC/PDDA) n and a sensitive amperometric sensor for detection of nitrite was developed based on PEDOT/(CNCC/PDDA) n .