Electrochemical determination of hydrogen peroxide using copper/porous silicon based non-enzymatic sensor

•Porous silicon/copper nanocomposite powder was prepared by chemical etching method.•The nanocomposite was used for electrocatalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide.•The novel developed sensor displayed a fast amperometric response time of less than 5 s.•The sensor could detect hydrogen peroxide as low as 0.27 μmol L−1.•No interference found from dopamine, uric acid, glucose, nitrite and ascorbic acid.

Copper on porous silicon (Cu/PSi) nanocomposite powder is a new electrode material synthesized by electrodeless deposition of copper nanoparticles on the etched PSi powder in a solution containing hydrofluoric acid and CuSO4. The nanocomposite is selective for electrochemical hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) reduction and shows a wide linear range (0.50–3.78 mmol L−1), low detection limit (0.27 μmol L−1), fast response (less than 5 s), good signal reproducibility (R.S.D. = 1.5%), long-term stability (more than one month), plus the low cost. No interference was observed from common species such as ascorbic acid, dopamine, uric acid and glucose.