Poly(ionic liquids)/reduced graphene oxide miniemulsion polymers as effective support for immobilization of Ag nanoparticles and its amperometric sensing of l-cysteine

A multi-layered catalyst based on poly [1-vinyl-3-ethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide][Veim] [TFSA] and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), with high loading capacity for immobilization of silver nanoparticles was prepared. Poly(ionic liquids) (PIL):rGO nanocomposite was prepared through a miniemulsion polymerization process. Functionalization of rGO with PIL avoids metal leaching because the PIL-rGO nanocomposite provides amount of specific binding sites to anchor and grow silver nanoparticles on rGO surface. A non-enzymatic l-cysteine sensor was constructed based on the resultant nanohybrid for the first time. The modified sensor presents attractive analytical features such as super electrocatalytic activity, remarkably low detection limit (6nM, S/N=3), wide determination range (0.1-500 mu M) and excellent selectivity.