Synergetic signal amplification of graphene-Fe2O3 hybrid and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide as an ultrasensitive detection platform for bisphenol A

Graphene nanosheets (GS) were easily prepared via one-step liquid exfoliation of graphite powder in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and then hybridized with porous Fe2O3 microspheres, as confirmed by the measurements of transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Scanning electron microscopy tests indicated that the surface roughness of GS-Fe2O3 hybrid was larger, and three-dimensional structure was more abundant. Compared with GS and Fe2O3 microspheres, the resulting GS-Fe2O3 hybrid remarkably increased the oxidation signals of bisphenol A (BPA). Moreover, the oxidation signals of BPA on GS-Fe2O3 hybrid surface was further enhanced greatly after addition of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Based on the synergetic signal amplification of GS-Fe2O3 hybrid and CTAB, a novel electroanalytical method with high sensitivity was developed for BPA, and the limit of detection was as low as 2.5 nM. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.