Graphene-palladium nanowires based electrochemical sensor using ZnFe2O4-graphene quantum dots as an effective peroxidase mimic.

•The nanohybrid ZnFe2O4/GQDs was developed by assembling the GQDs on the ZnFe2O4 through a photo-Fenton reaction.•The ZnFe2O4/GQDs exhibited higher peroxidase-like activity and better stability than each individual and HRP.•An electrochemical sensor was fabricated using ZnFe2O4/GQDs nanohybrid as a mimic enzymatic to detect DNA.•Graphene and Pd nanowires were modified on the glassy carbon electrode, which improved the electronic transfer rate.