Synthesis and characterization of CuO nanoparticles for efficient electrochemical detection of hydrazine

CuO nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method and comprehensively characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Structural analyses confirmed the formation of phase-pure monoclinic CuO with well-defined nanostructured morphology. A CuO-modified conductive fabric electrode was fabricated and employed for the electrochemical detection of hydrazine. The sensing performance was investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), revealing a pronounced electrocatalytic oxidation response toward hydrazine. The optimized sensor exhibited maximum sensitivity at pH 7 and displayed a linear response over the concentration range of 10–100 pM. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ), calculated using the 3.3σ/S and 10σ/S criteria, were found to be 7.15 pM and 21.72 pM, respectively. Furthermore, the fabricated electrode demonstrated excellent operational stability, retaining its sensing performance with negligible signal degradation over five weeks, along with outstanding repeatability across multiple successive measurements. These findings highlight the potential of CuO nanoparticles as an efficient, highly sensitive, and cost-effective electrode material for trace-level hydrazine monitoring in environmental and industrial applications.