Carbon supported CuPd nanoparticles for sensitive detection and electrocatalytic reduction of m-nitrophenol

Nitrophenols are important chemicals widely used and caused toxic effects on living beings. Here we developed a facile method to prepare CuPd/C catalyst for both m-nitrophenol sensitive detection (1 μM) and electrocatalytic reduction in a wide range from 100 to 10000 μM. The CuPd nanoparticles was synthesized by controlled coreduction of Cu and Pd salts in oleylamine and dispersed on carbon black to produce CuPd/C catalysts. The CuPd/C catalyst was subsequently modified on glassy carbon electrode both as the detection sensor and to investigate electrocatalytic reduction of m-nitrophenol. The sensitivity on the CuPd/C modified electrode (CuPd/C/GCE) was much higher than that on the GCE or commercial Pd/C modified electrode (Pd/C/GCE). The CuPd/C nanomaterial shows excellent m-nitrophenol sensing capability, including low detection limit, wide linear range, high reproducibility and stability. That makes it a unique electrochemical sensor for the detection of m-nitrophenol. The influence of m-nitrophenol concentration on the electrocatalytic ability of the CuPd/C/GCE was studied, and the reduction mechanism of m-nitrophenol is also presented.