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Abstract

The influence of nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) nanoparticles on sensitivity of insulin sensor was investigated. Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles that have an average diameters of 60 nm was characterized by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Insulin sensor was fabricated from silica gel/chitosan (SiO2/Chit) electrode that was modified with Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles. A mixture of silica gel and chitosan in weight ratio of 4 : 6 was prepared. This mixture was heated at 65 oC and stirred, then Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles solution (2 mL/100 mg of the mixture) and paraffin (15 % from the mixture weight) were added. The mixture was stirred continuously until the mixture becomes solid (paste). The paste was inserted in the bottom of glass tube and connected to Ag wire from the other side of the glass tube. The surface of the electrode was polished by abrasion paper grade 2000. The response of SiO2/Chit modified by Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles (SiO2/Chit/Ni(OH)2nps) electrode to insulin concentration was observed. The addition of 2 mL Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles could increase the sensitivity of the insulin sensor as much as sixfold compared to the electrode that was not modified by Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles. A linear graph was obtained when anodic (ipa) and cathodic (ipc) current were plotted at varied scan rate.