A simple and effective strategy was developed to construct an amperometric sensor for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) detection based on microwave-assisted polyol synthesis of PtAu@C nanocatalysts. The structures and characterization of bimetallic catalysts were examined via X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photo electron spectroscopy (XPS), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The catalytic activities of PtAu@C nanocatalysts at different compositions (Pt@C, Pt0.4Au0.68C Pt0.5Au0.5@C, Pt0.7Au0.3@C, Pt0.9Au0.1@C, Au@C) for the electro-oxidation of H2O2 have been investigated by using cyclic voltammetry (CV). It was observed that the electrocatalytic performance was strongly dependent on the PtAu@C nanocatalyst composition. Pt0.5Au0.5@C modified electrode showed the highest sensitivity toward hydrogen peroxide among the catalysts under study. Therefore, further studies performed by chronoamperometry for Pt0.5Au0.5@C optimized ratio catalyst. Electrochemical measurements indicated that the oxidation current of H2O2 is linear between the cohcentrations 7 mu M and 6.5 mM with high sensitivity of 210.3 mu A mM(-1) cm(-2). Pt0.5Au0.5@C modified electrode exhibited good reproducibility, selectivity and stability. Meanwhile, the sensitivity of the H2O2 sensor for real sample was investigated in pasteurized milk and the obtained results were satisfactory. Thus, the prepared non-enzyme sensor has potential application in H2O2 detection. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.