Controllable Deposition of a Platinum Nanoparticle Ensemble on a Polyaniline/Graphene Hybrid as a Novel Electrode Material for Electrochemical Sensing

Abstract

We demonstrate for the first time an interfacial polymerization method for the synthesis of high‐quality polyaniline‐modified graphene nanosheets (PANI/GNs), which represents a novel type of graphene/polymer heterostructure. The interfacial polymerization at a liquid–liquid interface allows PANI to grow uniformly on the surface of the GNs. An ultra‐high loading of Pt nanoparticles was then controllably deposited on the surface of the PANI/GNs to form a Pt/PANI/GNs hybrid. The obtained composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive spectrometry, X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The Pt/PANI/GNs hybrid shows excellent electrocatalytic activity toward methanol oxidation and oxygen reduction. H₂O₂ and glucose were used as two representative analytes to demonstrate the sensing performance of a Pt/PANI/GNs‐modified electrode. It is found that this sensing element shows high sensitivity and a low detection limit for H₂O₂ and glucose. The results demonstrate that the Pt/PANI/GNs hybrid may be an attractive and advanced electrode material with potential applications in the construction of electrochemical sensors and biosensors.