Synthesis and enhanced electrochemical properties of AuNPs@MoS2/rGO hybrid structures for highly sensitive nitrite detection

The electrochemical nitrite sensors based on nanomaterials have attracted great attention because of their destructive effect on both environment and human health. Herein, gold nanoparticles modified molybdenum disulfide and reduced graphene oxide (AuNPs@MoS2/rGO) based nitrite sensor has been proposed combing a facile hydrothermal and chemical reduction methods. To optimize the electrochemical performances, the as-fabricated AuNPs@MoS2/rGO sensors with different contents of gold have been systematic investigated toward nitrite detection by cyclic voltammograms and amperometry techniques. The measured results demonstrated that the as-prepared Au(4.5)NPs@MoS2/rGO sensor exhibits high sensitivity (0.805 mu A mu M-1.cm(-2)), short response time (3 s), low detection limit (0.038 mu M (S/N = 3)) and good linear detection range (0.2 mu M-2600 mu M). Meanwhile, it also displays excellent selectivity and good long-term stability toward nitrite. Finally, the excellent electrochemical performances of Au(4.5)NPs@MoS2/rGO nitrite sensor not only can be attributed to the synergistic effect between MoS2 and rGO nanosheets, but also ascribed to the excellent catalytic property of suitable content of Au nanoparticles.

Automated summary

The electrochemical nitrite sensor based on gold nanoparticles modified molybdenum disulfide and reduced graphene oxide shows excellent performance in terms of high sensitivity, short response time, low detection limit, and good linear detection range. The synergistic effect between MoS2 and rGO nanosheets, along with the catalytic property of appropriate content of Au nanoparticles, contributes to the outstanding electrochemical performances of the sensor.