Electrocatalytically active cuprous oxide nanocubes anchored onto macroporous carbon composite for hydrazine detection.

Cuprous oxide (CuO) is a p-type semiconductor with excellent catalytic activity and stability that has gained much attention because it is non-toxic, abundant, and inexpensive. Porous carbon materials have large specific surface areas, which offer abundant electroactive sites, enhance the electrical conductivity of materials, and prevent the aggregation of CuO nanocubes. In this study, a composite with high electrocatalytic activity was prepared based on CuO nanocubes anchored onto three-dimensional macroporous carbon (MPC) by a simple, eco-friendly, and cheap method for hydrazine detection. Due to the synergistic effect of MPC and CuO, the sensor exhibited high electrocatalytic activity, sensitivity, better selectivity, and low limit of detection. The resulting sensor could be a sensitive and effective platform for detecting hydrazine and promising practical applications.