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

Xiaohui Zhang, Yanfeng Wang, Xingming Ning, linfang Li, Jing Chen, Duoliang Shan, Ruiqin Gao, Xiaoquan Lu

Index: 10.1016/j.aca.2018.03.029

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Abstract

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 dimensions 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 is 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.