Preparation of a nanocomposite material consisting of cuprous oxide, polyaniline and reduced graphene oxide, and its application to the electrochemical determination of hydrogen peroxide.

A method is described for the preparation of a nanocomposite material consisting of cuprous oxide/polyaniline/reduced graphene oxide (Cu2O/PANI/rGO). Aniline was employed as both the precursor for PANI and the reducing agent for Cu2+ and graphene oxide. A glassy carbon electrode was modified with the nanocomposite material. Chronoamperometric studies with the modified electrode showed it to enable an efficient electroreduction of hydrogen peroxide at -0.2 V vs. saturated calomel electrode. All measurements were performed in the absence of oxygen. Figures of merit include a wide linear response range (0.8 μM to 12.78 mM) and a low limit of detection of 0.5 μM (S/N = 3). Graphical abstract Cuprous oxide/polyaniline/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites were synthesized through one-step process for fabricating an nonenzymatic electrochemical sensor for hydrogen peroxide.