Synthesis of Cu nanoparticles-loaded Fe3O4@carbon core–shell nanocomposite and its application for electrochemical sensing of hydrogen peroxide

A core–shell structure nanocomposite composed of Cu nanoparticles loaded onto porous carbon embed magnetic nanomaterial (Fe3O4@C–Cu) was synthesized, involving one-step solvothermal synthesis of Fe3O4@C and the subsequent deposit of copper in the carbon shell. Then a novel non-enzymatic sensor based on Fe3O4@C–Cu nanocomposites was fabricated by immobilizing Fe3O4@C–Cu nanocomposites on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The morphology and composition of the nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. Electrochemical investigation indicated that the Fe3O4@C–Cu/GCE possessed an excellent ability to catalyze H2O2 and was used for H2O2 determination. The sensor showed a wide linear range from 80.0 μM to 372.0 mM with a correlation coefficient of 0.9998, and the detection limit was 32.6 μM. Additionally, the sensor exhibited long-term stability, good reproducibility and anti-interference ability.