In-situ synthesis of gold nanocrystals anchored graphene oxide and its application in biosensor and chemical sensor

This research demonstrated the development of graphene oxide (GO)-gold nanocrystals (AuNCs) composite-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the sensitive detection of dopamine (DA), uric acid (UA), and 4-aminophenol (4-AP). The GO was synthesized by modified Hummer's method, which was utilized to prepare GO-AuNCs composites by in situ synthesis method using sodium l(-) malate as a reducing agent. Morphological, X-ray diffraction, and spectral analysis revealed the homogeneous formation of AuNCs with high crystallinity and purity on the GO surface and the sizes of the NCs were decreased with increasing the concentrations of sodium l(-) malate. The optimal GCE/GO-AuNCs sensor exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of DA, UA, and 4-AP. The sensor showed interference-free and selective detection of DA and UA with sensitivities of ca. 30.3 and 17.28μA/cm2/μM, respectively, and detection limits of ca. 28 and 50nM, respectively, with wider dynamic ranges, measured by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) technique. Whereas, it displayed a sensitivity and detection limit of ca. 5.70μA/cm2/mM and 0.017nM, respectively, for the detection of 4-AP, using current density (J)-voltage (V) measurement method. The sensor also revealed excellent stability, reproducibility, and recoveries of DA, UA, and 4-AP in real samples. [Display omitted] •GO-AuNCs composites were prepared by an in-situ chemical approach.•The optimal GO-AuNCs modified electrode was applied to detect DA, UA, and 4-AP.•The sensor exhibited excellent sensitivity and low detection limit.