Silver–Copper Bimetallic Alloy Nanoscale Electrochemical Sensor for the Detection of 1,2-Dihydroxybenzene Compounds

An inquiry-based lab activity was created to meet the 21st century learning objectives with real-world problem based skills and nanomaterial synthesis integrated with electrochemistry. An aqueous polymer solution method was utilized to carry out the synthesis of spherical shaped silver-copper alloy nanoparticles with an approximate size of 10–15 nm. These synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy and by FTIR. The bimetallic alloy nanoparticles were coated over different working electrodes (gold, platinum and carbon). The Ag-Cu bimetallic alloy coated working electrodes were applied in the detection of 1,2-dihydroxybenzenes (catecholamines: catechol and dopamine). The bimetallic alloy modified electrodes have exhibited improved response and more reversible behavior in the detection of common neurotransmitters compared to bare electrode response. This lab exercise has been beneficial in allowing students to learn about various important instrumental skills such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, UV-Visible spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry while engaging in nanoparticle synthesis.