beta-Nickel hydroxide nanoplates were synthesized on Cu rods by a simple hydrothermal method without the use of surfactants. A novel Ni(OH)(2) nanoplates/Cu rod electrode for hydrazine and non-enzymatic hydrogen peroxide was then fabricated and designated as beta-Ni(OH)(2) nanoplates/Cu rod electrode (beta-Ni(OH)(2) NPS/CRE). This electrode was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and the typical amperometric response (I-t) method. beta-Ni(OH)(2) NPS/CRE has a wide linear range for the detection of hydrazine, from 1 to 15,931 mu M, with a low detection limit of 0.3 mu M (S/N = 3) and a response time of less than 3 s. Its detection of hydrogen peroxide, has two linear ranges (5-7612.5 mu M for I; 8862.5-17,612.5 mu M for II) with an optimized detection limit of 1.68 mu M (S/N = 3) and a response time of less than 3 s. The results revealed that beta-Ni(OH)(2) NPS/CRE had favorable electrochemical responses toward those environmental pollutants. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.