Preparation of copper germanate nanowires with good electrochemical sensing properties

Abstract

Ternary copper germanate nanowires have been synthesized by the hydrothermal deposition route in an autoclave using germanium dioxide and copper oxide powders as the starting materials as well as the copper germanate nanowires have been investigated for cysteine sensing characteristics. The nanowires with the length of several dozens of micrometers are mainly composed of single crystalline orthorhombic CuGeO3, which are supported by X-ray diffraction, selected area electron diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectrum. Room temperature photoluminescence spectrum exhibits strong green light emission ability at 535.4 nm with a broad emission band. The copper germanate nanowires may be controlled grown by controlling the growth conditions of the nanowires. The nanowire growth process is explained using a solid state growth mechanism. The electrochemical analysis demonstrates that the copper germanate nanowires serve as a good electrochemical sensor with excellent electrochemical sensing ability for cysteine and catalytic ability for electron-transfer process. The electrochemical result of the copper germanate nanowires presents an important advance toward the application for electrochemical sensors operating at room temperature. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.