Fabrication of Cu6Sn5 Intermetallic Nanoarrays on Cu Wires and Electrochemical Detection of Uric Acids

Abstract

Stepwise process, including surface alloying in molten tin and chemical dealloying, has been employed to fabricate Cu₆Sn₅ intermetallic arrays sensors to uric acid. The Cu₆Sn₅ intermetallics (IMCs) form through the interdiffusion of Sn into Cu during the liquid-solid reaction at 300 ºC during immersion of Cu wire in molten Sn, which triggers the bottom-to-up ordered alignments and better interface strength. The Cu₆Sn₅ IMC arrays are leached out through the selective dissolution of embedded Sn in the voids and Sn shell during the chemical dealloying. The formation of the Cu₆Sn₅ IMC arrays is governed by the micro-coupling effects. On the basis of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) measurements, the Cu₆Sn₅ IMC arrays, as an electrochemical sensor, possess a sensitivity of 0.0184 mA mM, which is 16 times higher than the original Cu wires. The enhanced sensitivity is attributed to the increased surface area and improved oxidation kinetics of Cu₆Sn₅ IMC nanoarrays.