Au nanoparticle-decorated Ni2P nanosheet arrays with porous grids for electroanalytical hydroquinone sensing

In this study, Au nanoparticle decorated Ni2P nanosheet arrays (Au/Ni2P) with a porous grid are synthesized using hydrothermal and electrodeposition reactions for the first time. The Au/Ni2P nanosheet arrays can electrocatalytically oxidize hydroquinone to produce a current for the detection of hydroquinone. A hydroquinone sensor is fabricated by Au/Ni2P with a porous grid, which can take full advantage of the synergistic catalysis of Au nanoparticles and Ni2P. The catalytic reaction sites of hydroquinone and the potential energy surface of the reaction pathway were predicted by Gaussian 09 and Multiwfn. Prominent performance was recorded for the hydroquinone sensor, attaining a wide linear range from 0.5 to 4000 μM, an excellent sensitivity of 1715 μA mM−1 cm−2, a low detection limit of 0.26 μM, as well as reliable selectivity, repeatability and stability. Gratifyingly, the sensor could satisfy the requirements of hydroquinone determination in actual environmental water, such as in tap water and rainwater.