Nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on flower-shaped Au@Pd core–shell nanoparticles–ionic liquids composite film modified glassy carbon electrodes

A novel nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on flower-shaped (FS) Au@Pd core–shell nanoparticles–ionic liquids (ILs i.e., trihexyltetradecylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide, [P(C6)3C14][Tf2N]) composite film modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) was reported. The Au@Pd nanocatalysts were prepared by seed-mediated growth method, forming the three-dimensional FS nanoparticles, where tens of small Pd nanoparticles (∼3 nm) aggregated on gold seeds (∼20 nm). The FS Au@Pd nanoparticle was a good candidate for the catalytic efficiency of nanometallic surfaces because of its flower-shaped nature, which has greater adsorption capacity. XPS analysis and zeta potential indicated that the surface of Pd atoms is positively charged, profiting the oxidation process of glucose. And ILs acted as bridge connecting Au@Pd one another and bucky gel as platform within the whole nanocomposite. So the modified electrode has higher sensitivity and selectivity owing to intrinsic synergistic effects of this nanocomposite. Amperometric measurements allow observation of the electrochemical oxidation of glucose at 0.0 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), the glucose oxidation current is linear to its concentration in the range of 5 nM–0.5 μM, and the detection limit was found to be 1.0 nM (S/N = 3). The as-prepared nonenzyme glucose sensor exhibited excellent stability, repeatability, and selectivity.