The high-yield crystalline silver nanoplates were synthesized by mixing para-phenylenediamine (PPD)
and silver nitrate with the addition of an appropriate amount of formic acid at low temperature. X-ray
diffraction measurements show that the silver samples are pure face-centered cubic (fcc) phase with a
preferred orientation of (111) direction. The silver nanoplates modified electrode (AgNP/GC) exhibits
an excellent electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of nitrite ðNO
2 Þ. The corresponding linear
range and detection limit are estimated to be from 1 105M to 1 103M (r = 0.999) and
1.2 106 M, respectively, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. It was successfully applied to the determination
of nitrite in some food samples and the results were consistent with those obtained with the standard
spectrometer procedure.