Pluronic Triblock Copolymer Research Articles

Self-assembled supramolecular thermoreversible β-cyclodextrin/ethylene glycol injectable hydrogels with difunctional Pluronic®127 as controlled delivery depot of curcumin. Development, characterization and in vitro evaluation

This study aimed to design a novel thermoreversible compact self-assembled host macromolecule based on β-cyclodextrin and low molecular weight ethylene glycol with a difunctional guest molecule i.e. poly (ethylene oxide)-poly (propylene oxide)-poly (ethylene oxide) tri-block co-polymer (Pluronic® 127) through host-guest inclusion complexation in aqueous media using cold method. The injectable thermoreversible self-assembled supramolecular hydrogel was developed to encapsulate hydrophobic curcumin as anti-malignant agent and for controlled delivery to systemic circulation after in vivo application through subcutaneous route. As reversible supramolecular assembly, the thermoresponsive gels showed a unique structure-related reversible gel to sol transition above and below LCST determined via tube titling method. The rheological measurements of the supramolecular hydrogels showed a viscoelastic structure. Optical transmittance of supramolecular assembly also confirmed the thermoreversible sol–gel transitions. The strong potential of supramolecular assembly as injectable controlled delivery was assessed using curcumin as model active pharmaceutical ingredient for in vitro release experiments. The release experiments conducted in various dissolution medias and at different temperature programs showed maximum curcumin release in phosphate buffer solution (7.4) at 35 °C. methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay was used to assess the safety and efficacy of self-assembled supramolecular injectable hydrogels. In vitro cytotoxicity study showed that blank supramolecular gels are non-toxic to the L929 cells. While curcumin released from supramolecular injectable hydrogels (Cur-β-CD/EG-PF127) has the ability to show pharmacological activity and kill the cancer cells. Furthermore the formation of channel type inclusion complex was studied through Fourier transformed infra-red spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetric and scanning electron microscopic analysis.

Electrochromic properties of MoO3-WO3 thin films prepared by a sol-gel method, in the presence of a triblock copolymer template

Hybrid MoO3-WO3 thin films were deposited on conductive indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrates by a sol-gel dip-coating technique. The influence of the annealing temperature (200–500°C), concentration of MoO3 (0–10%), and Pluronic P123 triblock copolymer (0–20% w/v) used as a template, were investigated. It was found that the 5% MoO3-95% WO3 films prepared without template and annealed at 200°C, exhibited the highest coloration efficiency, the best cycling stability and shortest response time, an overall improvement with respect to a WO3 film. It is thought that the surface roughness and the low crystallinity of the films contribute to their improved electrochromic properties. In addition, porous MoO3-WO3 films with well-connected micro-pores, prepared with 2% w/v Pluronic P123 and annealed at 300°C, showed significantly improved electrochromic performance.

Direct synthesis and application of bridged diamino-functionalized periodic mesoporous organosilicas with high nitrogen contents

Bridged diamino-functionalized periodic mesoporous organosilicas [BD-PMO(Et), Et = ethyl] materials were synthesized directly by co-condensation of 2-bis (triethoxysilyl)ethane (BTEE) and 1,4-bis[3-(tirmethoxysilyl)-propyl]ethylenediamino (BTMSEN) under acidic conditions with pluronic triblock copolymer P123 as a template. The nitrogen content in BD-PMO(Et) could be adjusted up to 40% without disturbing the ordered mesoporous structure. These materials were proved to be effective heterogeneous catalysts for the liquid-phase reactions such as Knoevenagel and Henry condensations as well as in the intermolecular cross-double-Michael addition reaction between α-methyl-β-nitrostyrene and α, β-unsaturated ketone. They exhibited comparable catalytic activities with homogeneous catalyst piperazine and can be reused for several times without any negative environmental impact.

HPV-associated cervical cancer cells targeted by triblock copolymer gold nanoparticle curcumin combination.

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) has promising anti-cervical cancer properties but requires a stabilizing complex such as the Pluronic triblock copolymer gold nanoparticle (GNP). The objectives were to study cytotoxicity of curcumnin and to determine the effect of copolymer GNPs curcumnin complex on cancer cell necrosis. The HeLa cells were maintained in Eagle Minimal Essential Medium, fetal bovine serum, and antibiotics, and passaged until 60% confluency was reached. The cells were exposed to either: (1) control medium, (2) 50 μM curcumin, (3) 100 μM curcumin, (4) 50 μM curcumnin with copolymer GNPs complex, or (5) 100 μM curcumnin with copolymer GNPs complex. The treated cells were incubated at 37°C with 5% CO(2) in air for 24 hours, and analyzed for viability, apoptosis or necrosis using the dual stains fluorescence procedure. A dose-dependent increase in the HeLa necrosis was observed with increasing curcumnin concentrations. Cytotoxic effect was decreased by five- to ten-fold when the curcumin was complexed with copolymer GNPs. There were more apoptotic HeLa cells at the higher concentration of curcurnin but combination with copolymer GNPs resulted in decreased apoptosis. Cell viability was higher in curcumnin with copolymer GNPs (74.4 ± 4.8 versus 2.3 ± 2.2% live, mean ± SEM, with and without copolymer GNPs, respectively). Curcumin increased HeLa cancer cell necrosis but its cytotoxicity was decreased by copolymer GNPs. The results suggested that this specific copolymer GNP did not enhance the curcumnin bioavailability in cultured cells possibly due to formation of copolymer GNP aggregates.

Polymer-assisted co-precipitation route for the synthesis of Al $$_{2}$$ 2 O $$_{3}$$ 3 –13% TiO $$_{2}$$ 2 nanocomposite

The present investigation reveals the effect of processing parameters on the properties of alumina–titania (Al\(_{2}\)O\(_{3}\)–TiO\(_{2}\)) nanocomposites. A polymer-assisted (Pluronic P123 triblock co-polymer) co-precipitation route has been employed to synthesize \(\hbox {Al}_{2}\hbox {O}_{3}\)–\(\hbox {TiO}_{2}\) nanoparticles. As a surfactant, pluronic P123 polymer exhibits hydrophobic as well as the hydrophilic nature simultaneously which detains the agglomeration and hence the nano size particle have been obtained. Effect of surfactant concentration on morphology and particle size of product has also been investigated. Thermal behaviour of the prepared powder samples have been studied using differential scanning calorimeter/thermal gravimetric analysis and dilatometer. Formation of aluminium-titanate \((\hbox {Al}_{2}\) \(\hbox {TiO}_{5})\) phase has been confirmed using X-ray diffraction analysis. It has been observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis that the particle size reduced effectively (below 100 nm) when polymer-assisted co-precipitation route is used instead of the simple co-precipitation technique. A highly dense microstructure of sintered samples has been obtained, driven by reduced particle size.

Dependence of the textural properties and surface species of ZnO photocatalytic materials on the type of precipitating agent used in the hydrothermal synthesis

Three different precipitating agents (NaOH, \(\hbox {NH}_{4}(\hbox {H})\hbox {CO}_{3}\) and \(\hbox {CO}(\hbox {NH}_{2})_{2}\)) have been applied for the hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO powder materials, aiming at obtaining various types of porosity and surface species on ZnO. The synthesis procedures were carried out in the presence and in the absence of tri-block copolymer Pluronic (P123, EO20PO70EO20). These materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM)–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), BET method and TG–differential thermal analysis (DTA) method, and their photocatalytic activities were tested in the removal azo dye Reactive Black 5 (RB5). The urea precipitant yields spongy-like surface forms and the greatest share of mesopores. It has the highest specific surface area, highest degree of crystallinity of wurtzite ZnO phase and largest content of surface OH groups in comparison with the other two precipitants. The zinc hydroxycarbonate intermediate phase is missing in the case of NaOH as precipitating agent; therefore, it manifests poorer textural characteristics. The morphology of P123-modified sample is different and consists of needle-shaped particles. The urea-precipitated samples display superior performance in the photocatalytic oxidation reaction, compared with the other precipitated samples. The other two precipitating agents are inferior in regard to their photocatalytic activity due to greater share of micropores (not well-illuminated inner surface) and different surface morphologies.

Silica Nanotubes with Widely Adjustable Inner Diameter and Ordered Silicas with Ultralarge Cylindrical Mesopores Templated by Swollen Micelles of Mixed Pluronic Triblock Copolymers

Mixtures of commercially available Pluronic poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymers combined with appropriate swelling agents are proposed as templates for silica nanotubes and ordered silicas with very large cylindrical mesopores. In particular, swollen micelles of Pluronic F127 (EO106PO70EO106) with long poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) chains and low poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) content (30 wt %) mixed with a Pluronic with a higher PPO content (60–70 wt %) and short PEO chains were found at 11 °C to template two-dimensional hexagonal SBA-15 silicas with ultralarge (100) interplanar spacings up to ∼30 nm. Moreover, when the ratio of the silica precursor to the triblock copolymer mixture was appropriately lowered, silica nanotubes were readily obtained. While the addition of the high-PPO-content Pluronic facilitated the uptake of the swelling agent (toluene), allowing one to achieve very large inner tube diameters (∼35 nm), smaller diameters down to ∼10 nm were systematically generated using lower relative quantities of the swelling agent. As-synthesized (surfactant-containing) nanotubes of very large diameter had a tendency to flatten into ribbons and twist or bend, resulting in materials that had rather featureless pore size distributions after the surfactant removal. However, the degradation of these nanotubes was suppressed by increasing the hydrothermal treatment temperature (from 100 to 110–130 °C). The nanotubes exhibited high surface areas (424–911 m2/g) and large total pore volumes (∼2 cm3/g), in addition to the well-defined and widely tunable inner diameter (10–35 nm), even if they tended to cluster upon removal of the surfactant. It is envisioned that swollen mixed PEO-based surfactants will provide new templating opportunities for nanotubes of different compositions and for other nanoporous materials.

Cage like ordered carboxylic acid functionalized mesoporous silica with enlarged pores for enzyme adsorption

Cubic FDU-12 type mesoporous silicas with enlarged pores and carboxylic acid (–COOH) functionality in the pore channels (denoted as LP-FTC-x) are synthesized using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and carboxyethylsilanetriol sodium salt (CES) as silica sources, Pluronic F127 triblock copolymer as template, and trimethylbenzene (TMB) as pore expander, and utilized them as supports for enzyme immobilization. When the –COOH content is increased from 0 to 30%, the pore size of LP-FTC-x decreases from 23.6 to 11.1 nm, and its particle size decreases from around 2 μm to 600–800 nm. The material exhibits a high papain adsorption capacity (895 mg g−1) with a low leaching rate at pH 8.2 due to the well-defined surface chemistry in the pore channel. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms follow the pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir isotherm model, respectively. The excellent structural properties of LP-FTC-x are also advantageous for enhancement in stability of enzyme toward the temperature, solution pH, and incubation time variations.

TiO2 Nanostructure Synthesized by Sol-Gel for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells as Renewable Energy Source

The use of renewable materials as a constituent of a smart alternative energy such as the use of natural dyes for light harvesting needs to be developed. Synthesis of anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) and fabrication Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) using dye-based of anthocyanin from purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) as a photosensitizer had been done. Synthesis TiO2 through sol-gel process with the addition of triblock copolymer Pluronic F127 template was controlled at pH 3 whereas calcination was carried out at a temperature of 500 °C, 550 °C and 600 °C. The obtained TiO2 were analyzed by XRD, SAA, and SEM. The conclusion is anatase TiO2 obtained until annealing up to 600 °C. Self-assembly Pluronic F127 triblock copolymer capable of restraining the growth of TiO2 crystals. Retention growth of TiO2 mesoporous produces material character that can be used as builders photoanode DSSC with natural sensitizer anthocyanin from purple sweet potatoes. Based on the analysis of X-ray diffraction patterns and surface area analyser, the higher the calcination temperature the greater the size of the anatase crystals is obtained, however, the smaller its surface area. Purple sweet potato anthocyanin’s dyed on to TiO2 was obtained a good enough performance for DSSC’s and gain the optimum performance from DSSC’s system built with mesoporous TiO2 annealed 550 °C using flavylium form anthocyanin.

Recovery of mangostins from Garcinia mangostana peels with an aqueous micellar biphasic system

Methods of extraction and separation of antioxidants from plant sources by chromatography and solvent extraction are often time and solvent consuming, and result in low yields. A simple and mild thermo-induced aqueous micellar biphasic system (AMBS) was used to recover α- and γ-mangostins from Garcinia managostana peels. AMBS composed of non-ionic surfactants such as Triton X-114, Triton X-45, and Pluronic triblock copolymers were developed. Effects of the types of the non-ionic surfactant, its concentration, sample load, pH of the AMBS and the equilibration temperature on recovery of mangostins were studied. The optimum condition for recovery of α- and γ-mangostins was achieved with an AMBS composed of 3% (w/w) Pluronic L-81 and a sample loading of 0.5% (w/w) crude peels. At equilibration temperature of 40°C and pH 8, 2646.6±1.2μg/mL of α-mangostin and 379.4±1.2μg/mL of γ-mangostin were recovered in the micelle-rich phase of the AMBS with a log partition coefficient of α- (logKα) and γ-mangostin (logKγ) of 4.00±0.02 and 3.36±0.01, respectively. α- and γ-mangostins could be recovered simultaneously with a yield of 52.93% and 7.59%, respectively in a single-step. This study demonstrated that AMBS can serve as a tool to efficiently recover and separate various bioactive compounds from plant sources.

Flexible, cathodoluminescent and free standing mesoporous silica films with entrapped quasi-2D perovskites

The effective entrapment of hybrid organic-inorganic semiconductors (HOIS) into mesoporous polymer-silica hybrid matrices, formed as free standing flexible films, is presented for the first time. A blend of quasi-2D HOIS, simply synthesized by mixing two-dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) HOIS, exhibiting strong photoluminescence, is embedded into porous silica matrices during the sol-gel synthesis, using tetraethylorthosilicate as precursor and Pluronic F-127 triblock copolymer as structure directing agent, under acidic conditions. The final nanostructure hybrid forms flexible, free standing films, presenting high cathodoluminescence and long stable excitonic luminescence, indicating the protective character of the hybrid matrix towards the entrapped perovskite. A significant result is that the photoluminescence of the entrapped HOIS is not affected even after films’ prolonged exposure to water.

Incorporating poly(3-hexyl thiophene) into orthogonally aligned cylindrical nanopores of titania for optoelectronics

The incorporation of hole conducting polymer poly(3-hexyl thiophene) (P3HT) into the 8–9 nm cylindrical nanopores of titania is investigated using films with a unique orthogonally oriented hexagonal close packed mesostructure. The films are synthesized using evaporation induced self-assembly (EISA) with Pluronic triblock copolymer F127 as the structure directing agent. The orthogonally oriented cylindrical nanopore structure was chosen over a cubic structure because confinement in uniform cylindrical channels is hypothesized to enhance hole conductivity of P3HT by inducing local polymer chain ordering. Orthogonal orientation of the cylindrical nanopores is achieved by modifying the substrate (FTO-coated glass slides) with crosslinked F127. After thermal treatment to remove organic templates from the films, P3HT is infiltrated into the nanopores by spin coating a 1 wt% P3HT solution in chlorobenzene onto the titania films followed by thermal annealing under vacuum at 200 °C. The results show that infiltration is essentially complete after 30 min of annealing, with little or no further infiltration thereafter. A final infiltration depth of ∼14 nm is measured for P3HT into the nanopores of titania using neutron reflectometry measurements. Photoluminescence measurements demonstrate that charge transfer at the P3HT-TiO2 interface improves as the P3HT is infiltrated into the pores, suggesting that an active organic-inorganic heterojuction is formed in the materials.

Effect of Different Pluronic P123 Triblock Copolymer Surfactant Concentrations on SBA-15 Pore Formation

Effect of Different Pluronic P123 Triblock Copolymer Surfactant Concentrations on SBA-15 Pore Formation

Tunable synthesis of hierarchical mesoporous silica via porogen-carrying organosilicates

We describe the synthesis and characterization of hierarchically porous organic-inorganic hybrid silica with periodic 2-D hexagonal order and tunable location of secondary nanopores through co-condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and a new type of amphiphilic organosilicate precursors. Our amphiphilic organosilicates offer unique tunability of secondary micropores by carefully controlled bond molecular structure and number of bonds between hydrophobic adamantylphenols pore-generating moieties and siloxane precursors. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and microscopy results show a good structural order of the organic-inorganic hybrid silica. In addition, 29Si CP-MAS NMR spectra confirm the successful incorporation of organosilicate precursors into a silica framework. The primary cylindrical mesopores (∼6.4 nm) were originated from the cooperative self-assembly of Pluronic P123 triblock copolymer templates while smaller meso-/micropores were derived from adamantylphenols groups. We have previously demonstrated that adam-graft SQ had an affinity for hydrophobic PO core blocks to be located close to PO segment, which resulted in small pores next to primary mesopores and the resultant increment of mesopore size as well as wrinkled silica walls. On the contrary, the secondary small pores were mainly generated within a silica network while the size of the primary mesopores unaffected with the addition of adam-bridge SQ due to its selective incorporation into a silica framework. Moreover, the organic-inorganic hybrid silica prepared with adam-bridge SQ showed higher thermal stability than that of adam-graft SQ and SBA-15 type mesoporous silica. It is attributed to more SiOSi bonds formed from the bridged structure as well as enhanced hydrogen-bonding interaction between adam-bridge SQ hybrid silica and P123 templates.

Interlayer-free hybrid carbon-silica membranes for processing brackish to brine salt solutions by pervaporation

Mesoporous, interlayer-free, hybrid carbon-silica matrices and membranes based on tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), organosilica of triethoxyvinylsilane (TEVS) and pluronic triblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (P123) were successfully prepared using an acid-base catalysed sol-gel method for desalination applications. These membranes were carbonized to form the hybrid carbon-silica structures under inert conditions in vacuum and nitrogen. The effects of calcination conditions on the structure-property relationship of the carbon-silica xerogels were elucidated, and the membrane performances were systematically studied using brackish (1wt%) to brine (15wt%) feed concentrations of sodium chloride solution and feed temperatures (25–60°C) under pervaporation process. Vacuum calcined (CS-Vc) membrane produced a slightly more mesoporous matrix and higher carbon yield than the nitrogen calcined (CS-N2) membrane, and hence, led to comparatively superior desalination performance. CS-Vc membranes produced high water fluxes of 26.5 (1wt%, 60°C) and 9.2 (15wt%, 60°C) Lm−2h−1 with salt rejections of 99.5% and 98.6%, respectively. This study demonstrates that the combined strategy of hybrid organosilica with polymeric template and vacuum calcination offered the carbonized silica mesostructure membranes with excellent separation of water from the hydrated salt ions, and importantly, high water fluxes particularly for processing brine salt solutions.

The origin of anomalous positive heat capacity change upon micellization of Pluronic triblock copolymer F108 in aqueous solutions: Effect of PEO-PPO diblock impurities

It is well understood that the heat of micellization is monotonically decreased along with increasing temperature. However, it was found (Langmuir 2008, 24, 13858.) that the heat of micellization for Pluronic triblock copolymer in aqueous solutions abnormally increases along with the temperature at high Pluronic concentration region. The origin of this anomalous positive heat capacity change upon micellization of Pluronic F108 in aqueous solutions was explored by using differential scanning calorimetry, chromatography and dynamic light scattering. The impurities of commercial Pluronic F108, used as received, in aqueous solution form large aggregates at the temperatures well below its critical micelle temperature (CMT). At high F108 concentrations (>2.4wt.%), the aggregates almost completely dissociate and then integrate into micelles, resulting in anomalous positive relationship of heat of micellization (ΔH) with critical micelle temperature (CMT). By contrast, at low F108 concentrations (<2.4wt.%), the aggregates do not, or only partly, participate the micellization. When the impurities of F108 are separated and removed by using high performance liquid chromatography, the ΔH of purified F108 aqueous solutions monotonically decreases along with an increase in CMT. That is, a typical linear relationship of ΔH vs. CMT is resumed. It is interesting to find out that the ΔH of 0.05wt.% purified F108 aqueous solution (234.1kJ/mol) is higher than that of unpurified F108 (174.2kJ/mol) by 25.6%.

Anomalistic Self-Assembled Phase Behavior of Block Copolymer Blended with Organic Derivative Depending on Temperature

Amphiphilic Pluronic block copolymers have attracted great attention in a broad spectrum of potential applications due to the excellent phase behaviors in an aqueous solution, and many efforts have been made to investigate their phase behaviors under various external conditions. With a variety of external conditions, however, the closed looplike phase behaviors of a Pluronic block copolymer in an aqueous solution have not been reported yet. Herein, we report the closed looplike (CLL) phase behavior of a Pluronic P65 triblock copolymer blended with an organic derivative, 5-methylsalicylic acid (5mS), in aqueous solution, which is very unique for block copolymers. As the 5mS concentration increases, the isotropic to ordered phase or back to isotropic phase transition temperature is decreased while the number of closed loops is increased to two. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a CLL phase transition of a Pluronic block copolymer in an aqueous solution, which is readily applic...

Preparation and sensing properties of mesoporous ZnO–rGO composites based on in situ hydrothermal synthesis

Zinc oxide/graphene (ZnO–rGO, rGO is short for reduced graphene) nano-composites were prepared by in situ reduction of zinc acetate((CH3COO)2Zn·2H2O) and graphene oxide (GO) with a simple hydrothermal process assisted with Pluronic P123 triblock copolymer. Adsorbents of the gas sensing devices based on nanocomposite were prepared by coating method. The films have mesoporous structures and contain nano-crystalline phase, as evidenced from N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction and high resolution scanning electron microscopy. Gas sensing properties of pure ZnO and ZnO–rGO nano-composites were investigated in the temperature range of 100–300 °C. Compared with ZnO, ZnO–rGO nano-composite samples have enhanced hydrogen sulfide sensing properties. When the concentration of hydrogen sulfide reached 50 ppm, sensitivity of ZnO–rGO (5 wt%) reached 55.91 at 160 °C, which was about dozens of times higher than that of pure ZnO.

Mesoporous Alumina with Amidoxime Groups for CO2 Sorption at Ambient and Elevated Temperatures

Development of various mesostructures with introduced basic species such as amine groups represents a viable strategy for enhancing adsorption of acidic molecules such as CO2. To follow this strategy, mesoporous alumina-based materials with incorporated amidoxime functionality were prepared by evaporation induced self-assembly of commercial boehmite nanoparticles as an alumina precursor, (3-cyanopropyl)triethoxysilane as an organosilica precursor, and Pluronic P123 triblock copolymer as a soft template under acidic conditions. In the next synthesis step, the resulting mesoporous materials with cyanopropyl groups were subjected to hydrothermal reaction with hydroxylamine hydrochloride at slightly basic conditions and 80 °C to convert cyanopropyl groups to amidoxime functionalities. The latter sorbents showed fairly high CO2 uptake at ambient conditions (25 °C, 1.2 atm) and remarkably high sorption capacity (3.84 mmol/g) at 120 °C. Good thermal and chemical stabilities of these materials combined with high ...

A facile synthesis of mesoporous Pd[sbnd]ZnO nanocomposites as efficient chemical sensor

Mesoporous ZnO was synthesized through the sol-gel method in the presence of triblock co-polymer Pluronic (F-127) template as the structure directing agent. Palladium nanoparticles were photochemically reduced and deposited onto mesoporous ZnO to obtain 1 wt.% Pd/ZnO nanocomposite. Structural and morphological analysis revealed high homogeneity and monodispersity of Pd nanoclusters with small particle sizes ∼ 2–5 nm onto mesoporous ZnO. The electrochemical detection of ethanol in aqueous solutions was conducted at the newly developed Pd/ZnO modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by the current-potential (IV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques and compared with bare GCE or pure ZnO. The presence of Pd dopant greatly enhances the sensitivity of ZnO, and the obtained mesoporous Pd/ZnO sensor has an excellent performance for precision detection of ethanol in aqueous solution with low concentration. The sensitivity was found to be 33.08 μAcm−2 mM−1 at lower concentration zone (0.05–0.8 mM) and 2.13 μAcm−2 mM−1 at higher concentration zone (0.8–12 mM), with a limit of detection (LOD) 19.2 μM. The kinetics study of ethanol oxidation revealed a characteristic feature for a mixed surface and diffusion-controlled process. These excellent sensing characteristics make the mesoporous Pd/ZnO nanocomposite a good candidate for the production of high-performance electrochemical sensors at low ethanol concentration in aqueous solution.