Synthesis of graphene supported graphene-like C3N4 metal-free layered nanosheets for enhanced electrochemical performance and their biosensing for biomolecules

A new strategy for the assembly of graphene-like C3N4 on graphene is reported. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) clearly demonstrated that g-C3N4 was successful in the reduction of GO and the immobilization of g-C3N4 on the graphene surface. Investigation of their electrochemical behaviour for several redox systems was conducted, which indicated the unique electron structure endows the G-g-C3N4 with faster transfer and proper amount of g-C3N4 could make G-g-C3N4 advantageous in terms of improving the redox current and promoting electron transfer. Finally, several electroactive biomolecules, such as uric acid (UA), norepinephrine (NE), tyrosine (Tyr), tryptophan (Trp), acetaminophen (APAP) and rutin, were used to probe the biosensing capacity of G-g-C3N4 films by using the cyclic voltammetric method. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.