Novel Synthesis of Sensitive Cu-ZnO Nanorod-Based Sensor for Hydrogen Peroxide Sensing

We aimed to synthesize sensitive electrochemical sensors for hydrogen peroxide sensing by using zinc oxide nanorods grown on a fluorine-doped tin oxide electrode by using the facial hydrothermal method. It was essential to keep the surface morphology of the material (nanorods structure); due to its large surface area, the concerned material has enhanced detection ability toward the analyte. The work presents a non-enzymatic H2O2 sensor using vertically grown zinc oxide nanorods on the electrode (FTO) surfaces with Cu nanoparticles deposited on zinc oxide nanorods to enhance the activity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy-dispersive X-Ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electrochemical methods were used to characterize copper-zinc oxide nanorods. In addition to the high surface area, the hexagonal Cu-ZnO nanorods exhibited enhanced electrochemical features of H2O2 oxidation. Nanorods made from Cu-ZnO exhibit highly efficient sensitivity of 3415 mu AmM(-1)cm(-2) low detection limits (LODs) of 0.16 mu M and extremely wide linear ranges (0.001-11 mM). In addition, copper-zinc oxide nanorods demonstrated decent reproducibility, repeatability, stability, and selectivity after being used for H2O2 sensing in water samples with an RSD value of 3.83%. Cu nanoparticles decorated on ZnO nanorods demonstrate excellent potential for the detection of hydrogen peroxide, providing a new way to prepare hydrogen peroxide detecting devices.

Automated summary

This study aimed to synthesize sensitive electrochemical sensors for hydrogen peroxide sensing using zinc oxide nanorods grown on a fluorine-doped tin oxide electrode through the facial hydrothermal method. The nanorods exhibited enhanced detection ability due to their large surface area. The use of copper nanoparticles deposited on zinc oxide nanorods further enhanced the electrochemical features of H2O2 oxidation. The nanorods showed high sensitivity, low detection limits, and wide linear ranges, and demonstrated good reproducibility, repeatability, stability, and selectivity for H2O2 sensing.