Electrochemical sensor design based on CuO nanosheets/ Cellulose derivative nanocomposite for hydrazine monitoring in environmental samples

Synthesis of electrode materials with stable and advanced functionality is highly required to design susceptible and selective electrochemical sensors to fast screen various targets such as hazardous environmental analytes. A nanocomposite-based electrode material was synthesized for hydrazine (HZ) detection in environmental samples. The CuO nanosheets (CuO NSs) decorated the surface of Cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) were synthesized by a simple and one-step approach. The materials of CuO NSs/CAB and CAB were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and ultraviolet (UV). The designed material of CuO shows a nanosheet structure with irregular sheet size and distribution and a sheet size of ∼17 nm. The CAB rough surface, high surface, and functionalization (i.e., OH, acetate and butyrate) increase the loading of CuO nanosheet that enhance the catalytic active sites. Moreover, the structural morphology and composition of CuO NSs/CAB play a key role in the design of a highly active surface for electrocatalytic oxidation of HZ molecules. The CAB was decorated by CuO NSs and acted as the mediated surface for catalytic oxidation and signalling transduction of HZ molecules. The CuO acted as the active electrocatalyst, and the CAB acted as a hydrophilic surface to induce the binding and loading of HZ molecules. The CuO NSs/CAB shows a highly sensitive sensor with a low limit of detection (0.15 µM) and a wide linear range of 0.5–100 mM. The designed electrode of CuO NSs/CAB provides a selective sensor assay for the detection of HZ in environmental samples with a high recovery range of 96.34–99.64 %, high stability, and good reproducibility.