FLEXIBLE COMPOSITE AgNPs-PPy/CELLULOSIC PAPER ELECTRODE FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTION OF NITRATE

Abstract

In this work, we describe a simple strategy for the preparation of a low-cost electrode material based on polypyrrole (PPy) film grown on an insulating cellulosic paper (CP) substrate via in-situ oxidative polymerization technique and functionalized by silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) uniformly dispersed on its surface. The properties of the obtained AgNPs-PPy composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The electrocatalytic activity of the prepared electrode was investigated for the electroreduction of nitrate using cyclic voltammetry in 0.1 M KOH solution. Results demonstrated that the incorporation of AgNPs into the PPy matrix significantly improves the catalytic behaviour of this film. The effect of the amount of incorporated AgNPs on the electrode response was also investigated.