Electrocatalytical reduction of m-nitrophenol on reduced graphene oxide modified glassy carbon electrode

Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE), RGO/GCE, was used to investigate electrocatalytic reduction of m-nitrophenol. This reduction behavior was explored by cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry. The reduction potential of m-nitrophenol on the RGO/GCE shifts toward the positive potential relative to the GCE or GO/GCE. The reduction peak current on the RGO/GCE was much greater than that on the GCE or GO/GCE. The reduction peak current on RGO/GCE is 12 times of that on bare GCE, and 8 times of that on GO/GCE. The results show much better catalytic ability than ever reported works. The influence of pH and m-nitrophenol concentration on the electrocatalytic ability of the RGO/GCE was also studied. The optimal pH is found to be 5.50. The reduction mechanism of m-nitrophenol on the RGO/GCE is presented. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.