A Nanocomposite of Nickel Hexacyanoferrate Dots-Graphene Nanosheets-Applied to the Electrocatalytic Oxidation and Determination of N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine

A nanocomposite of nickel hexacyanoferrate dots-graphene oxide nanosheets was synthesized by a simple precipitation reaction. The morphology of the nanocomposite was examined by scanning electron microscopy. A nanocomposite-modified carbon paste electrode was then fabricated and its redox behavior was characterized by cyclic voltammetry. In the voltammograms of the modified electrode recorded in phosphate buffer solution, pH 7.4, one quasi-reversible redox couple was appeared and related to the Fe(II)/Fe(III) transition. The kinetics of charge transfer and mass transport processes across the nanocomposite/solution interface were studied. The modified electrode showed an efficient electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC) through a surface mediated electron transfer. The catalytic rate constant and the NAG diffusion coefficient were reported. A sensitive and time-saving amperometric method was developed for the analysis of NAG. The proposed amperometric method was also applied to the analysis of NAG in tablets and ampoule.