Layer-by-layer assembled multilayer of graphene/Prussian blue toward simultaneous electrochemical and SPR detection of H2O2

A new type of chemically converted graphene sheets, cationic polyelectrolyte-functionalized ionic liquid decorated graphene sheets (PFIL-GS) composite, was synthesized and characterized by Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption, Fourier transform infrared, and Raman spectroscopy. It was found that the presence of PFIL enabled the formation of a very stable aqueous dispersion due to the electrostatic repulsion between PFIL modified graphene sheets. With respect to the excellent dispersibility of this material, we have fabricated a novel PFIL-GS/Prussian blue (PB) nanocomposite multilayer film via classic layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly. The assembly process was confirmed by UV-vis spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy, which showed linear responses to the numbers of the deposited PFIL-GS/PB bilayers. Moreover, the as-prepared composite films were used to detect hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by electrochemical surface plasmon resonance (EC-SPR) spectroscopy. This real time EC-SPR technique can provide simultaneous monitoring of both optical SPR signal and electrochemical current responses upon injecting H2O2 into the reaction cell. The experimental results revealed that both the electrochemical and SPR signal exhibited splendid linear relationship to the concentration of the injected H2O2, and the detection limit could be up to 1 μM.