Copper/nickel nanoparticle decorated carbon nanotubes for nonenzymatic glucose biosensor

Abstract

In this study, copper/nickel (CuNi) particle decorated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been fabricated for nonenzymatic glucose detection by the electrodeposition of CuNi particles on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with Nafion-functionalized MWCNTs (fMWCNTs). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses reveal that CuNi particles were successfully deposited on the fMWCNTs/GCE. The as-synthesized CuNi/fMWCNT composite reveals the shape characteristics of dendrite with a Cu/Ni atomic ratio of around 88.1/11.9. The nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on CuNi/fMWCNT composite shows excellent electrocatalytic activity toward glucose oxidation with a high sensitivity (1470.2 μA cm −2 mM −1 ), a low detection limit (2.5 nM, signal/noise (S/N) ratio=3), and a wide linear range (0.1-5000 μM). Moreover, the sensor has been successfully used for the assay of glucose in human serum samples with good recovery, ranging from 95.6 to 100.1 %. These results indicate that CuNi/fMWCNT composite is an ideal candidate for novel nonenzymatic glucose sensor because of its high sensitivity, good selectivity, good stability, and low cost.

Electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose by screening combinatorial copper–nickel alloys

“…A continuous increase of the current density with increasing Ni amount in the library can be observed. The increase of the oxidation current confirms the dominant role of Ni in the electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose in agreement with previous studies . The non‐linear behaviour of the current density may suggest specific oxide mixing at the surface of the Cu–Ni thin film alloys triggered by varying parent metal composition.…”

“…The obtained cyclic voltammograms are very similar to those previously measured on pure Ni . However, a well‐defined anodic peak according to the Cu(OH) 2 /CuOOH redox couple was not clearly visible (Fig.…”

“…This leads to a Cu‐rich surface which in time will be finally oxidised to Cu(OH) 2 via an intermediary oxidation step represented by Cu 2 O . The anodic peak may therefore be partly attributed to the Ni 2+ /Ni 3+ redox couple according to the following reaction …”

“…As a result of these reactions a mixture of NiOOH and Cu(OH) 2 is built at the electrolyte/electrode interface. However, according to recent studies the Ni 2+ /Ni 3+ redox couple, especially the β‐NiOOH phase, plays the major role in the electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose . In order to describe the electrocatalytic behaviour of the studied Cu–Ni compositional spread, the current density maximum of the glucose electrochemical oxidation peak was determined.…”

Synthesis of Hollow Nanospherical Cuprous Oxide Supported by Nitrogen‐Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide and Its Application to Enzyme‐Free Glucose Sensing

“…Among the numerous methods of preparing nanocomposite materials, hybridization of electrocatalytic materials with a carbon support was considered to be an effective method to prepare composite materials. [9] So far, various kinds of noble metals, [10] metal alloys, [11] transition metal oxides or sulfides nanomaterials [12] and composites [13] have been extensively investigated as electrode materials for non-enzymatic glucose detection. However, noble metal nanomaterials encounter issues of high price and poor stability.…”