A hydrogen peroxide electrochemical sensor based on silver nanoparticles decorated silicon nanowire arrays

The ordered H-terminated Si nanowire (SiNW) arrays via electroless etching method are capable of reducing silver ions, leading to the deposition of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) on SiNW. The AgNPs decorated SiNW arrays are directly fabricated into a novel sensor for the detection of hydrogen peroxide in phosphate buffered solutions. The results of electrochemical experiments reveal that such constructed sensor has a fast amperometric sensing, low detection limit and wide linear responding range as well as high sensitivity. Our results indicate that the AgNPs decorated SiNW arrays with favorable electrocatalytic performance are very promising for the future development of non-enzymatic hydrogen peroxide sensors.

► Ordered H-terminated SiNW arrays were prepared via electroless etching method.
► AgNPs were decorated on the surfaces of SiNWs via the reaction between silver ions and Si–H bonds.
► The AgNPs decorated SiNW arrays were used to fabricate a hydrogen peroxide electrochemical sensor.
► The constructed sensor has fast amperometric sensing, low detection limit and wide linear responding range as well as high sensitivity to H2O2.