Gold nanoparticles decorated mesoporous silica microspheres: A proficient electrochemical sensing scaffold for hydrazine and nitrobenzene

Abstract In this report, an electrochemical sensing scaffold (ESS) for hydrazine (HZ) and nitrobenzene (NB) have been developed based on gold nanoparticles decorated mesoporous silica microspheres (Au-MSM) modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode (represented as GC/Au-MSM). The presence and formation of gold nanoparticles in Au-MSM composite material is verified by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and by electrochemical methods. The textural and thermal properties are studied by nitrogen adsorption-desorption and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. The electrocatalytic sensing behavior of GC/Au-MSM towards HZ and NB are investigated in detail employing various electrochemical techniques. Amperometry measurements as a function of HZ concentration exhibit two linear calibration ranges of 5.0 μM to 0.5 mM and 0.5–18.0 mM. Similarly, the differential pulse voltammetry measurements as a function of NB concentration show a linear calibration range of 0.1 μM to 2.5 mM. The limit of detection is evaluated to be 0.11 μM and 15.0 nM for HZ and NB, respectively. The kinetic parameters for HZ oxidation and NB reduction are discussed using chronoamperometry. The proposed GC/Au-MSM ESS shows good selectivity over potent interferences and applied to determine HZ and NB in various water samples.