An improved sensitivity non-enzymatic glucose sensor based on a CuO nanowire modified Cu electrode

CuO nanowires have been prepared and applied for the fabrication of glucose sensors with highly enhanced sensitivity. Cu(OH)2 nanowires were initially synthesised by a simple and fast procedure, CuO nanowires were then formed simply by removing the water through heat treatment. The structures and morphologies of Cu(OH)2 and CuO nanowires were characterised by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The direct electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose in alkaline medium at CuO nanowire modified electrodes has been investigated in detail. Compared to a bare Cu electrode, a substantial decrease in the overvoltage of the glucose oxidation was observed at the CuO nanowire electrodes with oxidation starting at ca. 0.10 V vs.Ag/AgCl (saturated KCl). At an applied potential of 0.33 V, CuO nanowire electrodes produce high and reproducible sensitivity to glucose with 0.49 µA/µmol dm–3. Linear responses were obtained over a concentration range from 0.40 µmol dm–3 to 2.0 mmol dm–3 with a detection limit of 49 nmol dm–3 (S/N = 3). The CuO nanowire modified electrode allows highly sensitive, low working potential, stable, and fast amperometric sensing of glucose, thus is promising for the future development of non-enzymatic glucose sensors.