Electrochemical synthesis of mesoporous silica/graphene nanocomposite and its application in enhanced strategy for sensing of tannins

In the present study, a novel mesoporous silica/nitrogen-doped graphene composite modified electrode (MS/NGR/GCE) is prepared using an in-situ electrochemical method. The large specific surface area, excellent loading and electron transfer capabilities of the mesoporous silica/nitrogen-doped graphene composite make the modified electrode favored for electrochemical sensing. The sensing properties of different electrodes towards tannins are investigated, and the results show that MS/NGR/GCE exhibits much better sensing performance than individual graphene or mesoporous silica modified electrodes. Under optimal conditions, the linear range of MS/NGR/GCE for determination of tannins is 0.10–5.0 μmol/L and 5.0–80 μmol/L, respectively, with a detection limit of 0.050 μmol/L (S/N = 3). These results demonstrate that this study has opened up a new pathway for constructing high-performance nanocomposite electrochemical sensors.