Cobalt oxide magnetic nanoparticles–chitosan nanocomposite based electrochemical urea biosensor

In this study, a potentiometric urea biosensor has been fabricated on glass filter paper through the immobilization of urease enzyme onto chitosan/cobalt oxide (CS/Co3O4) nanocomposite. A copper wire with diameter of 500 µm is attached with nanoparticles to extract the voltage output signal. The shape and dimensions of Co3O4 magnetic nanoparticles are investigated by scanning electron microscopy and the average diameter is approximately 80–100 nm. Structural quality of Co3O4 nanoparticles is confirmed from X-ray powder diffraction measurements, while the Raman spectroscopy has been used to understand the chemical bonding between different atoms. The magnetic measurement has confirmed that Co3O4 nanoparticles show ferromagnetic behavior, which could be attributed to the uncompensated surface spins and/or finite size effects. The ferromagnetic order of Co3O4 nanoparticles is raised with increasing the decomposition temperature. A physical adsorption method is adopted to immobilize the surface of CS/Co3O4 nanocomposite. Potentiometric sensitivity curve has been measured over the concentration range between 1 × 10−4 and 8 × 10−2 M of urea electrolyte solution revealing that the fabricated biosensor holds good sensing ability with a linear slope curve of ~45 mV/decade. In addition, the presented biosensor shows good reusability, selectivity, reproducibility and resistance against interferers along with the stable output response of ~12 s.