Facile synthesis of chiral C-doped cerium oxide nanoparticle assemblies in the presence of phenylalanine-derived surfactant and their non-enzymatic electrocatalysis of glucose

Abstract

Designing the chirality of inorganic nanostructures, such as individual nanoparticles and their assemblies, will offer a new potent platform for bioanalysis, chiral catalysis and chiral sensors etc.. Herein, the chiral C-doped cerium oxide nanoparticle assemblies were successfully synthesized by inducing an amino acid-based surfactant (N-(2-hydroxydodecyl)-L-phenylalanine) in a hydrothermal process. The chirality of the C-CeO₂ nanoparticle assemblies originates from the asymmetric geometries of CeO₂ nanoparticles, which were assembled by the doped linkage of carbon species from the synchronously decomposed surfactant during the hydrothermal process. The resultant C-CeO₂ nanoparticle assemblies demonstrate unique chiral features, and their chirality can be regulated by adjusting the surfactant concentration. Based on the chiral selectivity, CeO_2, as a chiral artificial nanoenzyme, can show excellent electrocatalytic activity in the process of glucose oxidation. The chiral C-CeO₂ nanoparticles modified electrode could detect glucose in the wide range of 0.60 μM–2.00 mM, and a low detection limit of 1.359 μM (S/N = 3). Furthermore, the as-fabricated electrodes demonstrated good stability and an interference-free performance in real samples. The chiral C-CeO₂ nanomaterials will promise the novel application in the field of chiral catalysis, enantiospecific separation and chiral electrochemical sensors.