Gold nanoparticles/electrochemically expanded graphite composite: A bifunctional platform toward glucose sensing and SERS applications

Abstract An integrated nanogold/expanded graphite based sensor was fabricated by a former electrochemical etching of the pencil lead electrode (PLE) and a later in-situ deposition of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The electrochemical pretreatment of PLE (EPLE) created a 3D graphene-like surface, enhanced the electrode surface area and facilitated the electron transfer ability within 5 min without any hazardous chemicals added. The obtained AuNPs/EPLE sensor had an excellent electrochemical response to glucose with a wide linear concentration range, from 0.05 to 38 mM and 38 to 60 mM, and a low detection limit of 5 μM (S/N = 3). Furthermore, the AuNPs/EPLE sensor was successfully employed to de…