Preparation and application of a highly sensitive nonenzymatic ethanol sensor based on nickel nanoparticles/Nafion/graphene composite film

Nickel nanoparticles (nano Ni) were electrochemically deposited on the Nafion/graphene film modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and a nonenzymatic ethanol sensor was fabricated. The properties of the nano Ni/Nafion/graphene film were investigated by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results showed that the Ni nanoparticles could be formed uniformly on the Nafion/graphene film and the nonenzymatic sensor had high electrocatalytic activity to the oxidation of ethanol in alkaline media. The oxidative currents were linear with the concentration of ethanol in the range of 0.43–88.15 mM, and the detection limit was 0.12 mM (S/N = 3), which was superior to those obtained with other transition metal based nonenzymatic sensors. The nonenzymatic sensor was applied for the detection of ethanol in real liquor samples with satisfied results.