Abstract
We describe the electrochemical preparation of bismuth nanoribbons (Bi-NRs) with an average length of 100 +/- 50 nm and a width of 10 +/- 5 mu m by a potentiostatic method. The process occurs on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) in the presence of disodium ethylene diamine tetraacetate that acts as a scaffold for the growth of the Bi-NRs and also renders them more stable. The method was applied to the preparation of Bi-NRs incorporated into reduced graphene oxide. This nanocomposite was loaded with the enzyme glucose oxidase onto a glassy carbon electrode. The resulting biosensor displays an enhanced redox peak for the enzyme with a peak-to-peak separation of about 28 mV, revealing a fast electron transfer at the modified electrode. The loading of the GCE with electroactive GOx was calculated to be 8.54 x 10(-10) mola (TM) cm(-2), and the electron transfer rate constant is 4.40 s(-1). Glucose can be determined (in the presence of oxygen) at a relatively working potential of -0.46 V (vs. Ag|AgCl) in the 0.5 to 6 mM concentration range, with a 104 mu M lower detection limit. The sensor also displays appreciable repeatability, reproducibility and remarkable stability. It was successfully applied to the determination of glucose in human serum samples.