One pot electrochemical synthesis of poly(melamine) entrapped gold nanoparticles composite for sensitive and low level detection of catechol

A simple and cost effective synthesis of nanomaterials with advanced physical and chemical properties have received much attention to the researchers, and is of interest to the researchers from different disciplines. In the present work, we report a simple and one pot electrochemical synthesis of poly(melamine) entrapped gold nanoparticles (PM-AuNPs) composite. The PM-AuNPs composite was prepared by a single step electrochemical method, wherein the AuNPs and PM were simultaneously fabricated on the electrode surface. The as-prepared materials were characterized by various physicochemical methods. The PM-AuNPs composite modified electrode was used as an electrocatalyst for oxidation of catechol (CC) due to its well-defined redox behavior and enhanced electro-oxidation ability towards CC than other modified electrodes. Under optimized conditions, the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used for the determination of CC. The DPV response of CC was linear over the concentration ranging from 0.5 to 175.5 μM with a detection limit of 0.011 μM. The PM-AuNPs composite modified electrode exhibits the high selectivity in the presence of range of potentially interfering compounds including dihydroxybenzene isomers. The sensor shows excellent practicality in CC containing water samples, which reveals the potential ability of PM-AuNPs composite modified electrode towards the determination of CC in real samples.