We have prepared low-dimensional silver oxide nanoparticles (NPs) by a sono-chemical method using reducing agents in alkaline medium. The resulting NPs were characterized by UV/vis and FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (XEDS), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). They were deposited on a flat-polycrystalline gold electrode (AuE, surface area, 0.0216 cm(2)) to give a sensor with a fast response toward 4-nitrophenol (4-NPh) in liquid phase. The sensor also displays good sensitivity and long-term stability, and enhanced electrochemical performances. The calibration plot is linear (r(2) = 0.9873) over the large concentration range (LDR, 1.0 mu M to 0.5 mM). The sensitivity and detection limit is calculated to similar to 4.740 mu A cm(-2) mM(-1) and similar to 0.19 mu M (signal-to-noise ratio, at a SNR of 3), respectively. We also discuss possible future prospective uses of this metal oxide nanomaterials in terms of chemical sensing. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.