Graphene quantum dots decorated with magnetic nanoparticles: Synthesis, electrodeposition, characterization and application as an electrochemical sensor towards determination of some amino acids at physiological pH

This study reports on the synthesis and characterization of a novel nano-composite, Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles/graphene quantum dots (Fe3O4 MNP-GQDs), for sensing of some amino acids. For the first time, as-synthesized GQDs and Fe3O4 MNPs-GQDs was electrodeposited on the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by cyclic voltammetry (CV) regime in the potential range from -1.0 to 1.0 V. Fe3O4 MNP-GQDs is engineered to specifically and effectively capture and enhancement the electrochemical signals of some amino acids at physiological pH due to the synergy among GQDs and magnetic nanoparticles. We have illustrated that the obtained Fe3O4 MNPs-GQDs exhibited a much higher electroactivity individual GQDs and Fe3O4 MNPs for the electrooxidation and detection of amino acid which was about 10 fold higher than for GQDs. Magnetic and specific properties of the Fe3O4 MNP-GQDs can be exploited to capture and pre-concentration the amino acids onto its surface, which are important for detection of multi-amino acids. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.