A simple and an efficient strategy to synthesize multi-component nanocomposites for biosensor applications

We demonstrate that core–shell multi-component nanocomposites can be grown in situ at room temperature by a novel one-step approach without adding any reductant and stabilizer. We have presented a one-step method for the synthesis of multi-component nanocomposites in water solution, the multi-component nanocomposites could be produced directly and quickly in an in situ wet-chemical reaction. Here, Au–polypyrrole (PPy)/Prussian blue (PB) nanocomposites have been synthesized successfully under the same circumstance. With the addition of pyrrole monomers into mixture solutions, the autopolymerization of pyrrole into PPy and AuCl4− was reduced to elemental Au instantaneously as well as simultaneously. At the same time, PB produced along with elemental Au serving as a catalyst. Furthermore, we investigated the performance of Au–PPy/PB nanocomposites as amperometric sensor toward the reduction of H2O2, which displayed high sensitivity, fast response and good stability. The peak current of H2O2 increased linearly with the concentration of H2O2 in the range from 2.5 × 10−9 to 1.2 × 10−6 M, and the low detection limit of 8.3 × 10−10 M (S/N = 3) was obtained. Therefore, this work provides a new pathway to design and fabricate novel multi-component nanocomposites, which have unique characteristics and hold great applications in the fields of sensors, electrocatalysis and others.

This scheme is a brief synthetic procedure and the chemical structure of the Au–PPy/PB core-shell nanocomposites. With the addition of pyrrole monomers, pyrrole was autopolymerization to PPy and AuCl4− was reduced to elemental Au instantaneously and simultaneously, and more excitedly, PB was produced along with elemental Au serving as a catalyst.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Au–PPy/PB nanocomposites can be grown quickly and directly by a one-step method.
► There is no adding any reductant and stabilizer in the synthesis progress.
► The novel one-step method is facile, environmentally benign and available.
► Au–PPy/PB nanocomposites are used to construct a stable and sensitive H2O2 sensor.