An amperometric non-enzymatic glucose sensor by electrodepositing copper nanocubes onto vertically well-aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube arrays

Abstract

A non-enzymatic glucose (Glc) sensor was developed by potentiostatically electrodepositing metallic Cu nanocubes from a precursor solution onto vertically well-aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube arrays (MWCNTs). The electrochemical characteristics of the sensor were studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The sensor shows significantly higher electrocatalytic activity to the oxidation of Glc in 0.1 M NaOH alkaline solution after modification of Cu nanocubes than before. The sensor response is rapid (<1 s) and highly sensitive (1096 μA mM −1 cm −2) with a wide linear range (up to 7.5 mM) and low detection limit (1.0 μM at signal/noise ratio (S/N) = 3); it also exhibits high stability and specificity to Glc and performs very well in detecting of Glc concentration in human blood serum.