Double-template electrosynthesis of platinum nanomaterials for sensing application

Platinum nanomaterials were synthesized through a double-template electrochemical deposition. Scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction was used to investigate the morphology and ingredient changes during the fabrication process of platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs)/nanozinc oxide (nanoZnO) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Electrochemical methods were adopted to characterize the sensing properties of the proposed modified electrode towards hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hydrazine hydrate (N2H4). The results indicated that the PtNPs/nanoZnO/GCE showed synergistic electrochemical effect for electrocatalytic reduction of H2O2 and electrocatalytic oxidation of N2H4. Take N2H4 sensing for example, the modified electrode displayed a fast response (<4 s), high sensitivity (110 μA mM−1 cm−1) and broad linear in the range from 0.5 to 1300 μM and 1300 to 6000 μM with a relatively low detection limit of 0.2 μM (S/N = 3). Zero current potentiometry was used for in situ probing the changes of the interfacial potential during the electrocatalytic oxidation of N2H4 on the modified electrode.