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A new ratiometric electrochemical sensor using electroactive GO/MB/Ag nanocomposites for H2S detection in biological samples

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Abstract

In this study, we report a new ratiometric electrochemical sensor to accurately and selectively detect hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in biological samples. In this system, it contains electroactive Ag dendritic nanocomposites (NCs) as a special recognition element of H2S and methylene blue (MB) as an inner reference molecular for a built-in correction to improve the accuracy. The Ag NCs are prepared and synthesized by a electrodeposition method, and the branches consist of rounded and smooth segments with a diameter of about 300 nm. In the presence of H2S, combining with the good adsorption ability of GO and more active sites of dendritic Ag nanostructure, the Ag NCs of GO/MB/Ag can be oxidized to Ag2S in the oxygen environment, resulting in the decrease of electrochemical oxidation peaks of Ag (0.42 V) and constant of current responses of MB. On the basis of the ratio of IAg/IMB at two distinct potentials, the developed ratiometric electrochemical sensor displays a wide linear range from 30 to 500 μM with high accuracy, selectivity, and stability. This strategy provides a reliable and feasible method for the detections of H2S in real samples, including biological samples related to physiological and pathological events of hydrogen sulfide production.

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Funding

The financial support for this work was provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51873136), the Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (KYCX18_2499), the Project of Scientific and Technologic Infrastructure of Suzhou (SZS201708), and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, People’s Republic of China

    Hongyuan Shang, Hui Xu, Cheng Wang, Chunyan Chen, Liujun Jin & Yukou Du

  2. College of Science & Institute of Materials Physics and Chemistry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People’s Republic of China

    Caiqin Wang

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  1. Hongyuan Shang
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  2. Hui Xu
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  3. Cheng Wang
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  4. Chunyan Chen
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  5. Caiqin Wang
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  6. Liujun Jin
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  7. Yukou Du
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Correspondence to Caiqin Wang or Yukou Du.

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Shang, H., Xu, H., Wang, C. et al. A new ratiometric electrochemical sensor using electroactive GO/MB/Ag nanocomposites for H2S detection in biological samples. J Nanopart Res 22, 75 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-020-4774-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-020-4774-0

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