Bismuth and metal-doped bismuth nanoparticles produced by laser ablation for electrochemical glucose sensing

Abstract

Materials based on transition metals, such as Cu, Co, and Ni, have been intensively used as electrocatalysts for non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensing. However, the current trend of wearable/in vivo continuous glucose sensing has raised the need for non/low-toxic candidates. Herein, we demonstrate that the overlooked low-toxic bismuth (Bi)-based nanomaterials are suitable choices. Using a laser-ablation method, surfactant-free Bi nanoparticles (NPs) and transition metal (Ni and Co)-doped Bi NPs are obtained, achieving amperometric sensitivity values of 127, 677, and 2326 µA mM−1 cm−2, respectively. Low detection limits of 1 and 4 µM, as well as an extensive linear range of 0.001–3.5 mM, are recorded using Ni- and Co-doped Bi NPs, respectively. With competitive performance and high selectivity towards glucose sensing in both standard and serum samples, Bi-based nanomaterials are proven effective and promising candidates for future glucose sensor design beyond transition metal elements.