Efficient electrochemical determination of p-aminophenol using a novel tricomponent graphene-based nanocomposite

Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a novel tricomponent nanocomposite: gold nanoparticle@dithiooxamide functionalized reduced graphene oxide (AuNP@DFG). Interestingly, the strategy involves functionalization of the dithiooxamide molecule with graphene layers via amidation followed by anchoring of AuNPs on it. The fabricated material was characterized by TEM, SEM with EDAX, FTIR, Raman, XRD, XPS, and CV. High specific surface area, physico-chemical stability, fast electron transport and excellent electrocatalytic properties are salient features of the prepared nanocomposite. Under optimized conditions, the electrooxidation of p-aminophenol was studied in a wide linear range from 0.1 to 130 mu M with a limit of detection of 11 nM. The detection of p-aminophenol in real samples was also studied successfully.