Electrochemical determination of uric acid in the presence of ascorbic acid by hybrid of ZnO nanorods and graphene nanosheets

ZnO nanorods and graphene foam were synthesized via hydrothermal synthesis and chemical vapor deposition, respectively. Hybrid of ZnO nanorods and graphene nanosheets was prepared by ultrasonic treatment. The hybrid was sprayed onto the ITO glass. The hybrid was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties of the hybrid were measured by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The results show that the diameter and length of ZnO nanorods are ~ 50 nm and 5 μm, respectively. Graphene nanosheets with high quality are made up of few layers and the sheet size is ~ 2 μm. The sensitivity of the hybrid for detection of uric acid is 0.3 μM μA−1 cm−2 in the range of 5~80 μM. The electrode can accurately detect uric acid in the presence of ascorbic acid. Meanwhile, the electrode also shows good repeatability and stability.