A novel and simple approach for synthesis of palladium nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes for sensitive hydrogen peroxide detection

In this paper, we have demonstrated a new carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composite sensor with Pd nanoparticles prepared by seed-mediated growth method, using 3.5 nm gold nanoparticles as seeds and CNTs as growth scaffold. Their morphological characterization was carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were employed to characterize the performance of the modified electrode (PdNPs/AuNPs/CNTs/chitosan (chit) electrode). The results showed that the modified electrode had obvious electrochemical activity for electrocatalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at −0.2 V. Low detection limit of 0.1 μM with wide linear range from 0.1 μM to 6 mM could be obtained. The results of the experiment also showed that the sensor exhibits good reproducibility and long-term stability, as well as high selectivity with no interference from other oxidable species.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► A Pd-CNTs composite sensor was prepared by seed-mediated growth method. ► The modified electrode shows very high electrochemical activity for H2O2. ► Low detection limit with wide linear range could be obtained.