Electrochemical determination of nitrite using silver nanoparticles modified electrode

Abstract

In this work, we report the fabrication and characterization of silver nanoelectrode ensembles (Ag-NEEs) on a glassy carbon electrode. For this purpose, Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were anchored to the mercaptopropyl functionalized MCM-41 type silica spheres utilizing the chemisorption property of Ag NPs by -SH groups. The successful anchoring of Ag NPs into the silica matrix is characterized by several techniques including UV-vis diffuse reflectance and X-ray powder diffraction methods. The surface morphology of the Ag-NEEs was assessed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM respectively). Further, nitrite (NO2-) is electrocatalytically oxidized at Ag-NEEs, which leads to a sensitive determination of NO2-. The fabrication, characterization, and efficient sensing of NO2- at the Ag-NEEs are presented. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2010.