Immobilized organoruthenium(II) complexes onto polyethyleneimine-wrapped carbon nanotubes/in situ formed gold nanoparticles as a novel electrochemical sensing platform

• We prepared composite containing polyethyleneimine (PEI), CNTs and AuNPs.
• AuNPs were in situ formed on the surface of CNTs–PEI.
• When the AuNPs were in situ formed the stability would be improved.
• Nanocomposite combined the advantages of PEI–CNTs and in situ formed AuNPs.
• Modified nanocomposite Au electrode catalyzes the reduction of iodate and nitrite.

The polyethyleneimine (PEI) wrapped multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with a carboxylic acid group (CNTs–COOH) gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-modified gold (Au) electrode has been utilized as a platform to immobilize organoruthenium(II) complexes (ORC). The surface structure and composition of the sensor were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Electrocatalytic reduction of iodate and nitrite on the surface of modified electrode was investigated with cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and hydrodynamic voltammetry methods. The cyclic voltammetric results indicated the ability of AuNPs/PEI/CNT–COOH/ORC modified Au electrode to catalyze the reduction of this compound. AuNPs/PEI/CNTs–COOH nanocomposite combined the advantages of PEI-well dispersed CNTs–COOH and in situ formed AuNPs.

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