Deposition of nickel hydroxide on water-dispersible multi-walled carbon nanotubes for enhanced electrochemical performance.

• Ni2+ derived Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles are hydrothermally deposited on water-dispersible GQD modified MWNT surface. • Introduction of GQD enhances the interactions between Ni(OH)2 and MWNT. • The strong-connected Ni(OH) 2 /GQD·MWNT shows a high electrochemical performance. Nanoparticles of Ni(OH) 2 are deposited on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), via a hydrothermal reaction of Ni2+ in aqueous alkaline solution. In order to enhance the hydrophilicity of MWNTs and make MWNTs stably dispersed in water, MWNTs were modified by graphene quantum dot (GQD) via π―π interactions. The electrostatic interaction between Ni2+ and carboxyl group on GQD improves the combination between Ni2+ and MWNT, and the Ni(OH) 2 nanoparticles are homogenously deposited on the GQD-modified MWNT (GQDMWNT). The Ni(OH) 2 /GQD·MWNT hybrids illustrate enhanced electrochemical performances compared with Ni(OH) 2 /MWNT. As a sensor, the Ni(OH) 2 /GQD·MWNT electrode exhibits the low detection limit of 0.2 μM to glucose with a wide linear concentration range. These results open the new way to the preparation of inorganic/carbonous nanohybrids with excellent electrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]