Synthesis of copper sulfide nanorods as peroxidase mimics for the colorimetric detection of hydrogen peroxide

Copper sulfide (CuS) nanorods were synthesized via a one-pot hydrothermal approach. The CuS nanorods exhibited intrinsic peroxidase-like activity. The CuS nanorods showed high catalytic activity, good stability and dispersion in water. The CuS nanorods were used as peroxidase mimetics for the colorimetric detection of hydrogen peroxide. This method is simple, inexpensive, highly sensitive, and selective for H2O2 detection with a linear range of 1.0 × 10−6 to 1.0 × 10−3 mol L−1 and a detection limit of 1.1 × 10−7 mol L−1. The color change observable by the naked eye based on the oxidation of o-phenylenediamine (OPD) is the principle underlying the sensing of H2O2 level.