Fast Synthesis of PbS Nanoparticles for Fabrication of Glucose Sensor with Enhanced Sensitivity

PbS nanoparticles with average size of 12 nm have been synthesized by a novel time-saving method that combines sonochemical and laser postannealing processes, the latter being important for improved crystal quality of the nanoproduct. The crystalline quality and morphology of the PbS nanoparticles were characterized using several techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis. The as-produced PbS nanoproduct was then used to make a glucose sensor. Electrochemical measurements showed that the sensitivity of the glucose sensor based on PbS nanoparticles was 546.2 mu A cm(-2) mM(-1), much higher than for glucose sensors based on other semiconductor materials reported in literature.