Electrochemical preparation of copper hexacyanoferrate nanoparticles under the synergic action of EDTA and HAuCl4

A convenient method for electrochemical deposition of compact and uniform CuHCF nanoparticles was proposed. The size and the deposition rate of CuHCF nanoparticles could be easily controlled with the synergic action of EDTA and HAuCl4 in the deposition solution. The possible mechanism was investigated by using electrochemical and SEM techniques. Moreover, electrodeposition conditions such as pH, concentrations of HAuCl4 and EDTA as well as the initial concentration of ferricyanide had also been optimized. The resulting modified electrode exhibited excellent catalytic activity and improved stability for the oxidation of hydrazine. Hydrodynamic amperometry was applied for the determination of hydrazine with a linear range of 5.0 × 10−7–2.0 × 10−3 mol L−1 and the sensitivity was 194.0 μA mM−1.