Fibrous platinum nanocubes modified indium tin oxide electrodes for effective electrooxidation of alcohols and sensitive detection of hydrazine

Fibrous platinum nanocubes (f-PtNCs) were modified on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates via a one-step in situ reduction treatment, and the thus-fabricated f-PtNCs/ITO electrode was applied to electrochemical measurements. As apparently recognized from the FE-SEM images, a large number of ultrafine branched-nanorods were decorated on the surfaces of PtNCs, implying some unique electrochemical characteristics different from those of spherical Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs). The results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry revealed a lower charge transfer resistivity and a larger electrochemical active surface area of the f-PtNCs/ITO electrode in comparison with those of the PtNPs/ITO electrode. Owing to the superior electrocatalytic properties of the f-PtNCs/ITO electrode, the detection of hydrazine in neutral solutions using a differential pulse voltammetry brought about a good result with a linear response range of 0.1–50μM and a detection limit of 40nM. The present f-PtNCs/ITO electrode can be proposed as an interesting example of higher electrocatalytic performances of nano-fibrous structures on nanocrystals. [Display omitted] •Fibrous platinum nanocubes modified indium tin oxide (f-PtNCs/ITO) was prepared.•The f-PtNCs/ITO electrode showed better performances in the oxidation of alcohols.•The hydrazine detection with the f-PtNCs/ITO electrode showed good performances.•The f-PtNCs/ITO can be proposed as an easily preparable Pt-based electrode.