Mesoporous magnetite nanoparticle-decorated graphene oxide nanosheets for efficient electrochemical detection of hydrazine

Abstract

Herein, we report the one-pot solvothermal synthesis of mesoporous magnetite nanoparticle (m-Fe3O4)-loaded graphene oxide (GO) nanohybrid (m-Fe3O4/GO) and its utilization for the efficient electrochemical detection of hydrazine (HDZ). The as-synthesized m-Fe3O4/GO hybrid was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area and pore size analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Electrochemical behaviour of the m-Fe3O4/GO was explored using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and by amperometric responses. The results reveal that m-Fe3O4/GO hybrid-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) holds promising detection capability for HDZ with better features of the lower limit of detection (LOD), high sensitivity and extensive linear detection range compared to the bare GCE and GO-modified GCE. The values of LOD, sensitivity and linear detection range for m-Fe3O4/GO/GCE were 59 nM, 27 µA µM−1 cm−2 and 1–4400 µM, respectively. The high electron transfer rate and larger surface area of GO together with the mesoporous nature of Fe3O4 nanoparticles are responsible for the enhanced electrocatalytic activity of m-Fe3O4/GO-based electrochemical sensor. Most importantly, m-Fe3O4/GO/GCE-based electrochemical sensor developed in the present study exhibited excellent stability, reproducibility, reusability and anti-interference ability towards the detection of HDZ. The present study reveals that m-Fe3O4/GO is a promising material in developing highly efficient electrochemical sensors and biosensors.