Non-enzymatic electrochemical CuO nanoflowers sensor for hydrogen peroxide detection

Abstract

The electrocatalytic activity of a CuO flower-like nanostructured electrode was investigated in terms of its application to enzyme-less amperometric H2O2 sensors. The CuO nanoflowers film was directly formed by chemical oxidation of copper foil under hydrothermal condition and then used as active electrode material of non-enzymatic electrochemical sensors for H2O2 detection under alkaline conditions. The sensitivity of the sensor with CuO nanoflowers electrode was 88 4 mu A/mM cm(2) with a linear response in the range from 4.25 x 10(-5) to 4 x 10(-2) M and a detection limit of 0.167 mu M (S/N = 3). Excellent electrocatalytic activity, large surface-to-volume ratio and efficient electron transport property of CuO nanoflowers electrode have enabled stable and highly sensitive performance for the non-enzymatic H2O2 sensor. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved