Electrocatalytic oxidation and detection of hydrazine at carbon nanotube-supported palladium nanoparticles in strong acidic solution conditions

Lignosulfonate-Assisted In Situ Deposition of Palladium Nanoparticles on Carbon Nanotubes for the Electrocatalytic Sensing of Hydrazine

This paper presents a novel modified electrode for an amperometric hydrazine sensor based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified with lignosulfonate (LS) and decorated with palladium nanoparticles (NPds). The MWCNT/LS/NPd hybrid was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The electrochemical properties of the electrode material were evaluated using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The results showed that GC/MWCNT/LS/NPd possesses potent electrocatalytic properties towards the electro-oxidation of hydrazine. The electrode demonstrated exceptional electrocatalytic activity coupled with a considerable sensitivity of 0.166 μA μM-1 cm-2. The response was linear from 3.0 to 100 µM L-1 and 100 to 10,000 µM L-1, and the LOD was quantified to 0.80 µM L-1. The efficacy of the modified electrode as an electrochemical sensor was corroborated in a study of hydrazine determination in water samples.

Single-atom palladium anchored N-doped carbon towards oxygen electrocatalysis for rechargeable Zn-air batteries

Herein, an atomically dispersed palladium catalyst on a hierarchical porous structure of N-doped carbon (Pd₁/N-C) is prepared using a facile freeze-drying-assisted strategy. Freeze-drying methods not only suppress the aggregation of Pd atoms but also successfully produce abundant nanopores. HAADF-STEM confirms that Pd single atoms are uniformly anchored on the N-C surface. The Pd₁/N-C electrocatalyst enhances the ORR and OER activity and durability compared to N-C and Pd-NPs/N-C. Rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs) based on novel Pd₁/N-C exhibit a peak power density of 113.7 mW cm^-2 and maintain a voltage efficiency of 64.0% after 495 cycles at a discharge current density of 5 mA cm^-2. Besides, two ZABs in series can supply an LED light for at least 170 h.

Porous palladium-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-coated carbon microspheres/graphene nanoplatelet-modified electrode for flow-based-amperometric hydrazine sensor

A highly stable flow-injection amperometric hydrazine sensor was developed based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with palladium-poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) coated on carbon microspheres/graphene nanoplatelets (Pd-PEDOT@CM/GNP/GCE). The Pd-PEDOT@CM/GNP composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis (SEM/EDX). The modified GCE was electrochemically characterized using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The electrocatalytic activity of the Pd-PEDOT@CM/GNP/GCE toward hydrazine oxidation was significantly better than the activity of a bare GCE, a CM/GCE, a GNP/GCE, a Pd-PEDOT/GCE, and a Pd-PEDOT@CM/GCE. The sensor operated best at a low working potential of + 0.10 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Under optimal conditions, sensitivity toward hydrazine detection and operational stability (601 injections/one electrode preparation) were excellent. The response was linear from 1.0 to 100 μmol L^-1 and from 100 to 5000 μmol L^-1 with a detection limit of 0.28 ± 0.02 μmol L^-1 and high sensitivity of 0.200 μA μM^-1 cm^-2. The sensor showed good repeatability (relative standard deviation (RSD) < 1.4%, n = 15), reproducibility (RSD < 2.7%, n = 6), and anti-interference characteristics toward hydrazine detection. The feasibility of the electrochemical sensor was proved by the successful determination of hydrazine in water samples, and the results were in good agreement with those obtained from spectrophotometric analysis. Graphical abstract.

Nanomaterial based electrochemical sensors for the safety and quality control of food and beverages

The issue of foodborne related illnesses due to additives and contaminants poses a significant challenge to food processing industries. The efficient, economical and rapid analysis of food additives and contaminants is therefore necessary in order to minimize the risk of public health issues. Electrochemistry offers facile and robust analytical methods, which are desirable for food safety and quality assessment over conventional analytical techniques. The development of a wide array of nanomaterials has paved the way for their applicability in the design of high-performance electrochemical sensing devices for medical diagnostics and environment and food safety. The design of nanomaterial based electrochemical sensors has garnered enormous attention due to their high sensitivity and selectivity, real-time monitoring and ease of use. This review article focuses predominantly on the synthesis and applications of different nanomaterials for the electrochemical determination of some common additives and contaminants, including hydrazine (N2H4), malachite green (MG), bisphenol A (BPA), ascorbic acid (AA), caffeine, caffeic acid (CA), sulfite (SO32-) and nitrite (NO2-), which are widely found in food and beverages. Important aspects, such as the design, fabrication and characterization of graphene-based materials, gold nanoparticles, mono- and bimetallic nanoparticles and metal nanocomposites, sensitivity and selectivity for electrochemical sensor development are addressed. High-performance nanomaterial based electrochemical sensors have and will continue to have myriad prospects in the research and development of advanced analytical devices for the safety and quality control of food and beverages.

Heteroatom-Doped Carbon Materials for Hydrazine Oxidation

The key in designing efficient direct liquid fuel cells (DLFCs), which can offer some solutions to society's grand challenges associated with sustainability and energy future, currently lies in the development of cost-effective electrocatalysts. Among the many types of fuel cells, direct hydrazine fuel cells (DHFCs) are of particular interest, especially due to their high theoretical cell voltages and clean emission. However, DHFCs currently use noble-metal-based electrocatalysts, and the scarcity and high cost of noble metals are hindering these fuel cells from finding large-scale practical applications. In order to replace noble-metal-based electrocatalysts with sustainable ones and help DHFCs become widely usable, great efforts are being made to develop stable heteroatom (e.g., B, N, O, P and S)-doped carbon electrocatalysts, the activities of which are comparable to, or better than, those of noble metals. Here, the recent research progress and the advancements made on the development of heteroatom-doped carbon materials, their general properties, their electrocatalytic activities toward the HzOR, and their dopant- and structure-related electrocatalytic properties for the HzOR are summarized. Perspectives on the different directions that the research endeavors in this field need to take in the future and the challenges associated with DHFCs are included.

A review of the advanced developments of electrochemical sensors for the detection of toxic and bioactive molecules

The recent developments made regarding the novel, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly nanocatalysts for the electrochemical sensing of biomolecules, pesticides, nitro compounds and heavy metal ions are discussed in this review article.

Three-dimensional porous self-assembled chestnut-like nickel-cobalt oxide structure as an electrochemical sensor for sensitive detection of hydrazine in water samples

Three-dimensional NiCo₂O₄ is a kind of superior sensing material owing to its high electron transfer capability, large available surface area and numbers of active sites. In this work, NiCo₂O₄ of the three-dimensional chestnut-like structure were easily achieved through a one step hydrothermal process. Afterwards, the morphology and structure were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Based on the three-dimensional porous chestnut-like NiCo₂O₄, an electrochemical sensor for hydrazine (N₂H₄) detection is fabricated. This electrochemical platform can realize good selectivity, excellent stability, high sensitivity (∼2154.4 μA mM^-1 cm^-2), and low detection limit (0.3 μM), as well as a wide linear range from 1 μM to 1096 μM. The synergistic effect of nickel-cobalt in such mixed transition metal oxides which Co in Co₃O₄ is partially replaced by Ni are beneficial for enhancing sensing properties. This study proves that three-dimensional porous chestnut-like NiCo₂O₄ is electrochemically active for catalytic performance which is particular and promising material for good application in the practical detection of N₂H₄.

Citrate-Capped Hybrid Au-TiO2 Nanomaterial for Facile and Enhanced Electrochemical Hydrazine Oxidation

Effective and facile electrochemical oxidation of chemical fuels is pivotal for fuel cell applications. Herein, we report the electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrazine on a citrate-capped Au-TiO₂-modified glassy carbon electrode, which follows two different oxidation paths. These two pathways of hydrazine oxidation are ascribed to occur on Au and the activated TiO₂ surface of the Au-TiO₂ hybrid electrocatalyst. This activation was achieved through molecular capping of the Au-TiO₂ surface by citrate, which leads to favorable hydrazine oxidation with a lower Tafel slope compared to that of the clean surface of the respective materials, that is, Au and TiO₂.

Physical vapor deposited highly oriented V2O5 thin films for electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrazine

The proposed work is focused on the effect of substrates on the electrocatalytic performance of physical vapor deposited vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) films.

Manganese dioxide–vulcan carbon@silver nanocomposites for the application of highly sensitive and selective hydrazine sensors

Active carbon supported MnO₂@Ag nanocomposites were developed for the highly sensitive and selective electrochemical detection of hydrazine.

Self-assembly synthesis of reduced graphene oxide-supported platinum nanowire composites with enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards the hydrazine oxidation reaction

Pt-NWs-P can self-assemble on the GO@NH₂ surface. After NaBH₄ reduction, Pt-NWs/RGO show improved electrocatalytic activity for the hydrazine oxidation reaction.

Iron(III) diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid complex on polyallylamine functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes: immobilization, direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis

A nonenzymatic iron(III) diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Fe(III)-DETPA) complex based amperometric sensor for the analytical determination of hydrogen peroxide was developed. By combining the electrostatic interaction between the Fe(III)-DETPA complex and polyallylamine (PAH) functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as well as the ionotropic crosslinking interaction between PAH and ethylenediamine-tetramethylene phosphonic acid (EDTMP), the electroactive Fe(III)-DETPA complex was successfully incorporated within the MWCNT matrix, and firmly immobilized on the Au substrate electrode. The fabricated electrochemical sensor was characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electrochemical methods. The influences of solution pH and ionic strength on the electrochemical sensor were investigated. The prepared electrochemical sensor had a fast response to hydrogen peroxide (<3 s) and an excellent linear range of concentration from 1.25 × 10(-8) to 4.75 × 10(-3) M with a detection limit of 6.3 × 10(-9) M under the optimum conditions.

Effective electrocatalysis based on Ag2O nanowire arrays supported on a copper substrate

Silver oxide nanowire arrays (Ag2O NWAs) were first synthesized on a copper (Cu) rod by a simple and facile wet-chemistry approach without using any surfactants. The as-synthesized Ag2O NWA/Cu rod not only can be used as an integrated electrode (called a Ag2O NWA/CRIE) to detect hydrazine (HZ) but also can serve as the catalyst layer for a direct HZ fuel cell. The current density of HZ oxidation on Ag2O NWA (94.4 mA cm(-2)) is much bigger than that on a bare Cu rod (3.9 mA cm(-2)) at -0.6 V, and other Ag2O NWAs have the lowest onset potential (-0.85 V). This suggests that a Ag2O NWA integrated electrode has potential application in catalytic fields that contain the HZ fuel cell.

Gold nanoparticle-modified graphite pencil electrode for the high-sensitivity detection of hydrazine

A novel gold nanoparticle-modified graphite pencil electrode (AuNP-GPE) is prepared just by immersing a bare GPE in AuNP solution, followed by heating for 15 min. The bare and modified GPEs are characterized by FE-SEM imaging and cyclic voltammetry. The AuNP-GPEs showed excellent electrocatalytic activities with respect to hydrazine oxidation, with good reproducibility. To reduce the quantification and detection limits, and increase the hydrazine sensitivity, the pH and square wave voltammetry parameters are optimized. A square wave voltammetry study as a function of the hydrazine concentration showed that the AuNP-GPE detector's quantification limit was 100 nmol L(-1) hydrazine, much lower than the value obtained using amperometry (10 µmol L(-1)). The limits of detection (at 3σ) for hydrazine sensing at AuNP-GPEs using square wave voltammetry and amperometry were 42 nmol L(-1) and 3.07 µmol L(-1). Finally, the modified electrode was used to determine the hydrazine concentration in drinking water, and satisfactory results are obtained. This simple, rapid, low-cost method for fabricating a modified electrode is an attractive approach to the development of new sensors.

Self-assembly of tetrakis (3-trifluoromethylphenoxy) phthalocyaninato cobalt(II) on multiwalled carbon nanotubes and their amperometric sensing application for nitrite

In this work, the soluble cobalt phthalocyanine functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are synthesized by π-π stacking interaction between tetrakis (3-trifluoromethylphenoxy) phthalocyaninato cobalt(II) (CoPcF) complex and MWCNTs. The physical properties of CoPcF-MWCNTs hybrids are evaluated using spectroscopy (UV-vis, XPS, and Raman) and electron microscopy (TEM and SEM). Subsequently, an amperometric nitrite electrochemical sensor is designed by immobilizing CoPcF-MWCNTs hybrids on the glassy carbon electrode. The immobilized CoPcF complex shows the fast electron transfer rate and excellent electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of nitrite. Under optimum experimental conditions, the proposed nitrite electrochemical sensor shows the fast response (less than 2 s), wide linear range (9.6 × 10(-8) to 3.4 × 10(-4) M) and low detection limit (6.2 × 10(-8) M) because of the good mass transport, fast electron transfer rate, and excellent electrocatalytic activity.