Gold nanoparticles/graphene oxide/polyaniline nanocomposites film as sensitive LSPR-based sensor for Pb(II) ions detection

A simple fabrication technique of heavy metal detection for environmental monitoring using localized surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy was developed based on the gold nanoparticles decorated graphene oxide-polyaniline nanocomposite (AuNPs/GO/PANI) film which was deposited onto indium-tin-oxide glass. The composites of graphene oxide and polyaniline dispersion was prepared by in situ polymerization of aniline in the presence of GO and incorporated onto gold nanoparticles using spin-coating technique. Morphology characterization of Au/GO/PANI using FESEM showed a wrinkled, rough surface of GO/PANI sheets layered on top of gold nanoparticles that have size ranges 40-50 nm. The lspr-based sensor AuNPs/GO/PANI nanocomposites have exhibited high sensitivity towards lead ions detection with detection limit for as low as 0.03 ppm.