Ultrasensitive sensor based on nano-Cu/polyaniline/nickel foam for monitoring H_2O_2 in exhaled breath

摘要

Asensitive, rapid and easy operated sensor for hydrogen peroxide (H_2O_2) determination in exhaled breath was developed in this study. The polyaniline (PANI) film and Cu nanoparticles (NPs) were successively electrochemical deposited on the surface of the three-dimensional nickel foam (NF), i.e., synthetized nano-Cu/polyaniline/NF. The Ni foam facilitates the charge and mass transfer, and it also provides a large amount of anchoring sites for CuNP deposition. The synergistic electro-catalytic actions between Cu NPs and PANI highly enhanced the reduction current of H_2O_2. Under the optimized conditions, the linear range for monitoring H_2O_2 extends from 0.01 to 500 nM (R~2?=?0.998), and the limit of detection is 0.0026 nM. Integrating with collection of exhaled breath in a fritted midget bubbler, the developed sensor can clearly identify the difference of H_2O_2 levels between the smokers and non-smokers, as well as before and after smoking for these subjects. Its application performance indicates the developed sensor possesses a great potential for routine analysis of H_2O_2 in exhaled breath.