1. Electrochemical preparation of copper-dendrimer nanocomposites: picomolar detection of Cu2+ ions
- Author
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Sheela Berchmans, Manoj Veerakumar, A. L. Kavitha, T. Mary Vergheese, and V. Yegnaraman
- Subjects
Crystal ,Nanocomposite ,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy ,Chemistry ,Dendrimer ,Monolayer ,Inorganic chemistry ,Nanoparticle ,Electrochemistry ,Biochemistry ,Voltammetry ,Analytical Chemistry - Abstract
The present work describes, for the first time, in situ electrochemical preparation of dendrimer-encapsulated Cu nanoparticles using a self-assembled monolayer of fourth-generation amine-terminated polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer as the template. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies of the modified surface confirmed the presence of Cu nanoparticles entrapped in dendrimer film. Au electrode modified with a monolayer of the dendrimer enables preconcentration and subsequent voltammetric detection of Cu(2+) at picomolar concentrations. Further, Cu nanoparticles in the dendrimer monolayer could be electrochemically derivatised to Cu hexacyanoferrate, which exhibits specific crystal planes, unlike the random distribution of crystal planes in bulk-formed Cu hexacyanoferrate, which is another catalytically active material for sensor applications.
- Published
- 2007