Highly sensitive detection of bisphenol A in real water samples based on in-situ assembled graphene nanoplatelets and gold nanoparticles composite

The in-situ assembly of well-dispersed gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GIs/Ps) composite was carried out. The GNPs-AuNPs composite was characterized by Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). GNPs-AuNPs modified glassy carbon electrode (GNPs-AuNPs/GCE) was fabricated, and its electrochemical behaviors were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The highly sensitive and selective determination of bisphenol A (BPA) at GNPs-AuNPs/GCE in sulfuric acid solution was observed by DPV. Plots of peak currents versus BPA concentrations were fitted successfully to obtain a linear relationship and a nonlinear relationship in the BPA concentration range of 5 x 10(-3)-100 mu M and 0.05-500 nM with good coefficient of determination (R-2), respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated to be 0.027 nM. The recoveries of quantitative analysis of BPA in mountain spring water and tap water at GNPs-AuNPs/GCE were in the range of 96.9%-103.3% and 97.9%404.2%, with relative standard deviation (RSD) in the range of 0.12-1.10% and 0.48-1.78%, respectively. The GNPs-AuNPs/GCE possessed good anti-interference ability, stability, repeatability, and reproducibility. It could be used as a simple, fast and sensitive electrochemical sensor electrode for determining trace amount of BPA in water samples.