Copper nanoparticles decorated polyaniline–zeolite nanocomposite for the nanomolar simultaneous detection of hydrazine and phenylhydrazine†

Abstract

In this study, a highly dispersed copper nanoparticles decorated polyaniline-nanocrystalline zeolite organic–inorganic hybrid material was synthesized. The hybrid material was characterized by the complementary combination of X-ray diffraction, N2-adsorption, scanning-transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric techniques. An electrochemical sensor based on the copper nanoparticles supported polyaniline-nanocrystalline zeolite was developed for the nanomolar simultaneous detection of the environmental pollutants hydrazine and phenylhydrazine with high electrocatalytic activity, stability, sensitivity, and selectivity. Under the optimum conditions, a wide linear range was obtained from 4 nM-800 μM with a limit of detection of 1 nM for both hydrazine and phenylhydrazine. The analytical performance of the developed sensor was demonstrated for the determination of hydrazine and phenylhydrazine in different water bodies with satisfactory results.