A facile synthesis of a 3D high-index Au NCs@CuO supported on reduced graphene oxide for glucose sensing

Abstract

A novel electrochemical sensor based on 3D reduced graphene oxide supported high-index Au NCs@CuO (RGO-Au NCs@CuO) for detection of glucose was reported in this work. A facile one-pot hydrothermal synthetic method was employed at room temperature with electrostatic self-assembly technology for the synthesis of reduced graphene oxide supported high-index Au nanocrystals. Morphology, structure and composition of RGO-Au NCs@CuO were characterized by various technologies including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Significantly, with the combination of large active surface area and high conductivity, electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of glucose was markedly enhanced. Under the best experimental conditions, the steady-state current response was linearly proportional to glucose concentration in the range from 0.1μM to 3mM with a low detection limit (30nM). Meanwhile, the sensor was of excellent selectivity and stability and successfully applied to the detection of glucose in human serum.