Functionalization of Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Cubic Prussian Blue and Its Application for Amperometric Sensing

Abstract

Abstract In this work, we synthesized electroactive cubic Prussian blue (PB) modified single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) nanocomposites using the mixture solution of ferric‐(III) chloride and potassium ferricyanide under ambient conditions. The successful fabrication of the PB‐SWNTs nanocomposites was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV‐vis absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry (CV). PB nanocrystallites are observed to be finely attached on the SWNTs sidewalls in which the SWNTs not only act as a carrier of PB nanocrystallites but also as Fe(III)‐reducer. The electrochemical properties of PB‐SWNTs nanocomposites were also investigated. Using the electrodeposition technique, a thin film of PB‐SWNTs/chitosan nanocomposites was prepared onto glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the construction of a H 2 O 2 sensor. PB‐SWNTs/chitosan nanocomposites film shows enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of H 2 O 2 and the amperometric responses show a linear dependence on the concentration of H 2 O 2 in a range of 0.5–27.5 mM and a low detection limit of 10 nM at the signal‐to‐noise ratio of 3. The time required to reach the 95% steady state response was less than 2 s. CV studies demonstrate that the modified electrode has outstanding stability. In addition, a glucose biosensor is further developed through the simple one‐step electrodeposition method. The observed wide concentration range, high stability and high reproducibility of the PB‐SWNTs/chitosan nanocomposites film make them promising for the reliable and durable detection of H 2 O 2 and glucose.