Silver-loaded nanozeolite-L-modified carbon paste electrode (Ag/L–CPE) was used as a novel sensing platform for enhanced electrocatalytic oxidation and determination of hydrazine. Zeolite L nanoparticles were synthesized via hydrothermal approach and then characterized using various techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). Silver-exchanged nanozeolite L (Ag/L) was prepared and mixed with carbon paste to prepare the modified electrode. Cyclic voltammetry studies revealed the high performance of Ag/L–CPE for electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrazine. Two linear ranges were detected in the amperometric detection of hydrazine. The first range was from10 $\mu$M to 0.4 mM with sensitivity of 103.13 $\mu$A mM$^{−1}$ and the second one was from 0.4 to 4mM with sensitivity of 58.131 $\mu$A mM$^{−1}$. The response time and detection limit ($S/N = 3$) of this sensor were determined to be 2 s and 1.5 $\mu$M, respectively. The unique porous structure of nanozeolite L offers a promising catalyst support candidate for efficient electrochemical sensing of hydrazine. The sensor exhibited appreciable repeatability, reproducibility and stability, and was able to detect hydrazine in the presence of even 500-fold excess concentrations of interfering species. Also, the sensor was used to determine hydrazine concentration in water samples with satisfactory results.

In this work, stem of common reed ash (SCRA) is introduced as a new source of silica in the preparation of mesoporous materials. Mesoporous silicate MCM-41 nanoparticles were synthesized hydrothermally using sodium silicateprepared from SCRA as a silica source. The characterization of MCM-41was carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), N2 adsorption/desorption (BET) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). SEM shows that MCM-41 nanoparticles are sphere-like with size in the range of 30–50 nm with some degree of agglomeration. TEM image of the synthesized sample shows the open framework structure of MCM-41. A type IV isotherm can be observed from adsorption/desorption curves, which is the characteristic of mesoporousmaterials. The prepared MCM-41 nanoparticles were used as substrate to facilitate the oxidation of methanol through the modification with an electroactive species. The modification was achieved by impregnation of MCM-41 pores with Ni$^{2+}$ ions (Ni-doped MCM-41). A modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) was prepared by mixing Ni-doped MCM-41 with carbon paste (NiMCM-41CPE). Cyclic voltammetry of NiMCM-41CPE shows an increment in current density of methanoloxidation in comparison with CPE in alkaline solution. Moreover, a decrease in the overpotential of methanol oxidation occurred on the surface of modified electrode. The effects of some parameters such as scan rate and methanol concentration are also investigated on the behaviour of NiMCM-41CPE. Also, the heterogeneous electron transfer rate for the catalytic reaction ($k$) of methanol is calculated.