In situ growth of copper sulfide nanoparticles on ordered mesoporous carbon and their application as nonenzymatic amperometric sensor of hydrogen peroxide

A simple and facile synthetic method to incorporate copper sulfide (Cu2S) nanoparticles inside the mesopores of ordered mesoporous carbons (OMCs) is reported. The Cu2S/OMCs nanocomposite was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and nitrogen adsorption–desorption. The results show that the incorporation of Cu2S nanoparticles inside the pores of OMCs does not change the highly ordered two-dimensional hexagonal mesostructure of OMCs matrix. Nonenzymatic amperometric sensor of hydrogen peroxide based on the Cu2S/OMCs nanocomposite modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode is developed. Compared with the pristine OMCs modified electrode, the Cu2S/OMCs modified electrode displays high electrocatalytic activity towards hydrogen peroxide and gives linear range from 1 to 3030 μM (R = 0.9986). The sensor also exhibits good ability of anti-interference to electroactive molecules. The combination of the unique properties of Cu2S nanoparticles and the ordered mesostructure of OMCs matrix guarantee the excellent electrocatalysis for hydrogen peroxide. The good analytical performance and low-cost make Cu2S/OMC nanocomposite promising for the development of effective sensor for hydrogen peroxide.