Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles/reduced graphene oxide nanosheets as a novel electrochemical and bioeletrochemical sensing platform

We have developed Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles/reduced graphene oxide nanosheets modified glassy carbon (Fe3O4/r-GO/GC) electrode as a novel system for the preparation of electrochemical sensing platform. Decorating Fe3O4 nanoparticles on graphene sheets was performed via a facile one-step chemical reaction strategy, where the reduction of GO and the in-situ generation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles occurred simultaneously. Characterization of as-made nanocomposite using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and alternative gradient force magnetometry (AGFM) clearly demonstrate the successful attachment of monodisperse Fe3O4 nanoparticles to graphene sheets. Electrochemical studies revealed that the Fe3O4/r-GO/GC electrode possess excellent electrocatalytic activities toward the low potential oxidation of NADH (0.05 V vs. Ag/AgCl) as well as the catalytic reduction of O2 and H2O2 at reduced overpotentials. Via immobilization of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as a model dehydrogenase enzyme onto the Fe3O4/r-GO/GC electrode surface, the ability of modified electrode for biosensing lactate was demonstrated. In addition, using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) to investigate the electrochemical oxidation behavior of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA) at Fe3O4/r-GO/GC electrode, the high electrocatalytic activity of the modified electrode toward simultaneous detection of these compounds was indicated. Finally, based on the strong electrocatalytic action of Fe3O4/r-GO/GC electrode toward both oxidation and reduction of nitrite, a sensitive amperometric sensor for nitrite determination was proposed. The Fe3O4/r-GO hybrid presented here showing favorable electrochemical features may hold great promise to the development of electrochemical sensors, molecular bioelectronic devices, biosensors and biofuel cells.