One-pot ionic liquid-assisted synthesis of highly dispersed PtPd nanoparticles/reduced graphene oxide composites for nonenzymatic glucose detection

• One-pot synthesis of PdPt/reduced graphene oxide with ionic liquid assistance.
• Highly dispersed PtPd NPs on reduced graphene oxide (RGO).
• PtPd NPs/RGO showing high electrocatalytic activity towards glucose oxidation.
• Effective sensing platform for glucose in pH 7.4 without violent interference.

A series of highly dispersed bimetallic PtPd alloy nanoparticles (NPs) anchored on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) have been synthesized with the assistance of ionic liquid (IL: [VEIM]BF4). Different ratios of (PtCl6)2− and (PdCl4)2− ions were firstly attached to IL functionalized graphene oxide (GO) sheets in ethylene glycol (EG), and then the encased metal ions and graphene oxide sheets were reduced simultaneously by EG with the assistance of microwave. The characterization results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrate that PtPd alloy NPs with small particle sizes are uniformly dispersed on RGO. Electrochemical measurements reveal that PtPd–IL–RGO modified electrode can directly catalyze glucose oxidation and display enhanced current response compared with PtPd–RGO (such as: a response time within 3 s, a linear range from 0.1 to 22 mM at 0 V, good reproducibility, considerable stability, and excellent anti-interference to electroactive molecules and Cl−). The superior catalytic activity and selectivity make PtPd–IL–RGO nanomaterials very promising for applications in direct detection of glucose.