Electrocatalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide by silver particles patterned on single-walled carbon nanotubes

Silver particles were patterned on flexible and transparent single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films using the electrochemical deposition method, and these patterned silver particles were then used as electrodes to detect hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The sizes and densities of silver particles were tuned by varying the patterned design and the preparation conditions. Field emission-scanning electron microscopy revealed that the patterned silver particles were homogeneously distributed on the single-walled carbon nanotube films (AgPs-SWCNT), with an average size of 150–200 nm. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed four peaks, corresponding to a face-centered cubic silver crystal nanostructure. The AgPs-SWCNT sensor displayed a linear electrical response to H2O2 concentrations ranging from 0.016 mM to 18.085 mM. The detection limit and the sensitivity of the sensor were 2.76 μM and 10.92 μA mM−1 mm−2, respectively. Furthermore, the AgPs-SWCNT sensor was resistant to l-ascorbic acid as an interferent, indicating that it was selective for the electro-reduction of H2O2. In addition, the developed sensor showed a stable amperometric response to the reduction of H2O2 over an extended period of time.