A facile one-pot strategy for the electrochemical synthesis of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/Zirconia nanocomposite as an effective sensing platform for vitamins B2, B6 and C

Conducting polymers have been studied extensively due to their intriguing electronic and redox properties. To improve and extend their functions, the fabrication of multi-functionalized conducting polymer nanocomposites has attracted a great deal of attention. Herein, for the first time, a simple one-step electrodeposition method was developed for the synthesis of poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene)/Zirconia nanoparticles (PEDOT/ZrO2NPs) composite film on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Data from scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrum, FTIR and UV/vis spectra, and various electrochemical techniques demonstrated that PEDOT/ZrO2NPs nanocomposite was successfully synthesized. The obtained PEDOT/ZrO2NPs nanocomposite film showed large specific area, high conductivity, rapid redox properties and had encapsulated structures, which make it an excellent sensing platform for sensitive determination of vitamin B2 (VB2), vitamin B6 (VB6) and vitamin C (VC). Electrochemical results obviously reveal that the catalytic peak currents of vitamins obtained at PEDOT/ZrO2NPs/GCE are much higher than those at PEDOT/GCE, ZrO2NPs/GCE and bare GCE. Using differential pulse voltammetry, detection limits of 0.012 μM, 0.20 μM and 0.45 μM were obtained for VB2, VB6 and VC, respectively at PEDOT/ZrO2NPs/GCE. Furthermore, the modified electrode exhibited good reproducibility and long-term stability, as well as high selectivity. The facile and easy electrochemical approach used for the preparation of PEDOT/ZrO2NPs nanocomposite may open up new horizons in developing of cost effective electrochemical sensors.