Nanocomposites of palladium nanoparticle-loaded mesoporous carbon nanospheres for the electrochemical determination of hydrogen peroxide

Palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) were loaded in situ on novel mesoporous carbon nanospheres (MCNs), which possess high specific surface area and large pore volume. The resulting Pd/MCNs hybrid nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). By using Pd/MCNs as the catalyst matrices to modify the surface of glassy carbon electrode, a nonenzymatic sensor was developed for the determination of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and amperometry (at an applied potential of −0.30V versus SCE) were used to study and optimize the performance of the electrochemical sensor. It was demonstrated that the sensor not only exhibits good electrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of H2O2 but also has high sensitivity (307.5μAmM−1cm−2), low detection limit of 1.0μM, and wide linear response range from 7.5μM to 10mM. Moreover, the sensor shows excellent stability and anti-interference capability for the detection of H2O2. ► Pd nanoparticles are homogeneously in situ loaded on a novel MCNs matrix. ► The hybrid Pd/MCNs show enhanced catalytic activity toward the reduction of H2O2. ► The Pd/MCNs based sensor exhibits high sensitivity and low detection limit to H2O2. ► The MCNs is a promising support for other catalysts.