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Structure‐Dependent Electrocatalysis of Ni(OH) 2 Hourglass‐like Nanostructures Towards L ‐Histidine
Author(s) -
Nai Jianwei,
Chen Zhengbo,
Li Haopeng,
Li Fangyuan,
Bai Yang,
Li Lidong,
Guo Lin
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201203009
Subject(s) - nanostructure , electrocatalyst , stacking , histidine , materials science , nanotechnology , nanomaterials , biomolecule , electrode , biosensor , hexagonal crystal system , crystallography , chemistry , electrochemistry , organic chemistry , enzyme
As the properties of nanomaterials are strongly dependent on their size, shape and nanostructures, probing the relations between macro‐properties and nanostructures is challenging for nanoscientists. Herein, we deliberately chose three types of Ni(OH) 2 with hexagonal, truncated trigonal, and trigonal hourglass‐like nanostructures, respectively, as the electrode modifier to demonstrate the correlation between the nanostructures and their electrocatalytic performance towards L ‐histidine. It was found that the hexagonal hourglass‐like Ni(OH) 2 sample had the best electrocatalytic activity, which can be understood by a cooperative mechanism: on one hand, the hexagonal sample possesses the largest specific surface area and the tidiest nanostructure, resulting in the most orderly packing on the electrode surface; on the other hand, its internal structure with the most stacking faults would generate a lot of unstable protons, leading to an enhanced electronic conductivity. The findings are important because they provide a clue for materials design and engineering to meet a specific requirement for electrocatalysis of L ‐histidine, possibly even for other biomolecules. In addition, the hexagonal Ni(OH) 2 ‐based biosensor shows excellent sensitivity and selectivity in the determination of L ‐histidine and offers a promising feature for the analytical application in real biological samples.