One-step preparation of silver nanoparticle embedded amorphous carbon for nonenzymatic hydrogen peroxide sensing

Herein, we report a rapid and facile fabrication of Ag/C hybrid by anchoring Ag nanoparticles in amorphous carbon network for application in amperometric sensing of hydrogen peroxide. Ag/C hybrid was prepared by simply mixing silver nitrate aqueous solution with ethylene glycol and diphosphorus pentoxide in one step at room temperature. The embedding of Ag nanoparticles into the amorphous carbon support can greatly strengthen the stability of Ag nanoparticles, protecting them from oxidizing without loss of conductivity. The nanocomposite was investigated by transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction technique, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemical measurements. The prepared Ag/C hybrid was fabricated onto the surface of glassy carbon electrode to investigate the sensing property towards hydrogen peroxide. The fabricated electrochemical sensor can determine hydrogen peroxide with a detection limit of 0.1 μM and up to 5.5 mM. Keywords: Noble metal, Nonenzyme, H2O2, Sensors