Silver nanoparticle-functionalized poly (3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene): Polystyrene film on glass substrate for electrochemical determination of nitrite

A high-performance electrochemical sensor based on silver-nanoparticle-functionalized poly (3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene (PEDOT:PSS) film on the common glass (Ag-CSA-PEDOT:PSS) was constructed by simple electrodeposition. The concentrated sulfuric-acid-treated PEDOT:PSS polymeric (CSA-PEDOT:PSS) film on common glass can be used as an electrode substrate to replace an expensive glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The unique properties of the Ag-CSA-PEDOT:PSS film were investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic-force microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, cyclic voltammetry and amperometric i-t. The Ag-CSA-PEDOT:PSS film electrode provides a highly sensitive determination of nitrite compared with indium tin oxide or the GCE substrate. Additional time was not required to polish the GCE surface. The Ag-CSA-PEDOT:PSS film electrode exhibited a broad linear range of 0.5–3400 μM, and had a lower detection limit of 0.34 μM (S/N = 3) in phosphate buffer solutions. Ag-CSA-PEDOT:PSS film electrodes can be used for sample detection of nitrite because they have a strong anti-interference ability, high reproducibility and high long-term stability. The fabrication strategy would provide a promising route to construct the novel electrochemical sensors.