Electrical characterization and hydrogen peroxide sensing properties of gold/Nafion: Polypyrrole/MWCNTs electrochemical devices

Abstract

Electrochemical devices using as substrates copier grade transparency sheets are developed by using ion conducting Nafion: polypyrrole mixtures, deposited between gold bottom electrodes and upper electrodes based on Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs). The electrical properties of the Nafion: polypyrrole blends and of the gold/Nafion: polypyrrole/MWCNTs devices are investigated under dry conditions and in deionized water by means of frequency dependent impedance measurements and time domain electrical characterization. According to current-voltage measurements carried out in deionized water, the steady state current forms cycles characterized by redox peaks, the intensity and position of which reversibly change in response to H2O2, with a lower detection limit in the micromolar range. The sensitivity that is obtained is comparable with that of other electrochemical sensors that however, unlike our devices, require supporting electrolytes. © 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.