Ultrasensitive Nonenzymatic Real-Time Hydrogen Peroxide Monitoring Using Gold Nanoparticle-Decorated Titanium Dioxide Nanotube Electrodes

Abstract

An amperometric enzyme-free hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) sensor was developed by catalytically stabilizing active gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) of 4-5 nm on a porous titanium dioxide nanotube (TiO₂ NTs) electrode. The Au NPs were homogeneously distributed on anatase TiO₂ NTs with an outer diameter of ~102 nm, an inner diameter of ~60 nm, and a wall of thickness of ~40 nm. The cyclic voltammogram of the composite electrode showed a pair of redox peaks characterizing the electrocatalytic reduction of H₂O₂. The entrapping of Au NPs on TiO₂ NTs prevented aggregation and facilitated good electrical conductivity and electron transfer rate, thus generating a wide linear range, a low detection limit of ~104 nM, and high sensitivity of ~519 µA/mM, as well as excellent selectivity, reproducibility, repeatability, and stability over 60 days. Furthermore, excellent recovery and relative standard deviation (RSD) were achieved in real samples, which were tap water, milk, and <i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i> bacteria, thereby verifying the accuracy and potentiality of the developed nonenzymatic sensor.