Electrochemical determination of rutin using SnO2/nitrogen-doped graphene composite electrode

Abstract

Herein, the nanocomposites of SnO2 nanoparticles on the nitrogen-doped graphene (SnO2/NG) as a sensitive electrochemical sensing platform for rutin determination were easily prepared via a facile hydrothermal method. The results showed that the existence of NG in SnO2/NG composites could dramatically improve the conductivity, facilitate the electron transfer and enhance the electro-catalytic activity of rutin. Compared with pure SnO2, NG and SnO2/graphene, the as-prepared SnO2/NG nanocomposite presented improved electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of rutin due to the synergetic effects from SnO2 and NG. Combined with differential pulse voltammetry, the prepared sensor based on SnO2/NG modified electrode displayed a wide linear range from 0.4 nM to 2 μM with a detection limit of 0.2 nM. The modified electrode exhibited high stability and reproducibility as well as good selectivity. These results suggest that SnO2/NG could be successfully applied for detecting rutin in practical samples.