In situ fabrication of copper oxide nanoparticles decorated carbon cloth for efficient electrocatalytic detection of nitrite

•A simple and efficient nitrite sensor was fabricated by in situ growing copper oxide nanoparticles on carbon cloth (CuO NPs/CC) via electrodeposition and calcination route.•The CuO NPs/CC electrode exhibited large active surface area, high electrical conductivity and superior catalytic activity for nitrite oxidation.•The CuO NPs/CC electrode revealed fast response time, high sensitivity and low detection limit.•The CuO NPs/CC electrode was successfully used in food samples for nitrite detection.