Palladium-carbon composite nanoparticle films with enhanced electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen peroxide sensors^†

A nanocomposite electrocatalyst was prepared with the method of cluster beam deposition of palladium nanoparticle thin films on carbon nanoparticle supporting layers and used as sensitive nonenzyme hydrogen peroxide sensors. An enhancement on the electrocatalytic activity of the palladium nanoparticles toward H₂O₂ reduction was observed, which was related to the coverage of the carbon nanoparticles. With one monolayer of carbon nanoparticles, the H₂O₂ detection sensitivity reached the maximum, which was more than twice of that of the pure Pd nanoparticles.