Amperometric hydrogen peroxide sensor based on the use of CoFe₂O₄ hollow nanostructures

The authors report on the preparation of a hollow-structured cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) nanocomposite for use in a non-enzymatic sensor for hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Silica (SiO₂) nanoparticles were exploited as template for the deposition of Fe₃O₄/CoFe₂O₄ nanosheets, which was followed by the removal of SiO₂ template under mild conditions. This leads to the formation of hollow-structured Fe₃O₄/CoFe₂O₄ interconnected nanosheets with cubic spinel structure of high crystallinity. The material was placed on a glassy carbon electrode where it acts as a viable sensor for non-enzymatic determination of H₂O₂. Operated at a potential of −0.45 V vs. Ag/AgCl in 0.1 M NaOH solution, the modified GCE has a sensitivity of 17 nA μM⁻¹ cm⁻², a linear response in the range of 10 to 1200 μM H₂O₂ concentration range, and a 2.5 μM detection limit. The sensor is reproducible and stable and was applied to the analysis of spiked urine samples, where it provided excellent recoveries.