Polyoxometalate-coupled graphene nanohybrid via gemini surfactants and its electrocatalytic property for nitrite

A novel graphene oxide (GO)-polyoxometalate (POM) nanohybrid is prepared using gemini surfactants (Gem) as stabilizers for the first time. The electrostatic interactions, chemical structure, and morphology of this Gem-GO-POM nanohybrid are systematically characterized, which have been manifested that the Gem-GO-POM nanohybrid provides uniform distribution of POM nanoparticles on the GO nanosheets and exhibits excellent electrochemical activity and stability due to the use of Gem as linkers and stabilizers. The prepared Gem-GO-POM catalyst used as electrode displays an enhanced electro-oxidation of nitrite compared with pure GO and DTAB-GO-POM hybrid using dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB) as stabilizers. The proposed nanohybrid structure capitalizes on the enhancing in the oxidation reactions ability of the POM through the Gem linkers to provide more binding sites for POM on the surface of GO.