Dendrites Nanostructures of Co3O4 for the Selective Determination of Uric Acid

Abstract The gout is mainly found due to accumulation of uric acid crystals into the joints which produces the inflammatory symptoms. Thus, it is highly demanded to detect uric acid from our body. Herein, we used wet chemical method for the preparation of composite material of cobalt oxide (Co3O4) with hydroxide functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and Infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to characterize the composite material. The Co3O4 exhibits a dendrite morphology and very well chemically coupled with MWCNTs. The elemental analysis confirmed the presence of Co, O and C as main constituent of the composite material. The Co3O4 exhibits a cubic unit cell crystallography in the composite system. The FTIR study has revealed the characteristic bands of Co-O bands in the composite material. The cyclic voltammetry was used to study the electrochemical properties of prepared materials. The composite sample with highest percentage of MWCNTs showed an excellent electrochemical activity towards the oxidation of uric acid in phosphate buffer solution pH 7.3. The enzyme free uric acid sensor possessed a linear range of 0.1 mM to 3 mM with a quantified limit of detection of 0.005 mM. The modified electrode is stable, selective, and very sensitive towards uric acid, therefore it may be used for the monitoring of uric acid from clinical samples. The proposed composite material is low cost, and earth abundant, thus it can be of great interest for energy and biomedical fields.