CuO nanoleaf electrode: facile preparation and nonenzymatic sensor applications

Abstract

We have prepared a CuO nanoleaf electrode by single-step chemical oxidation of a copper foil immersed in alkaline solution. The CuO nanoleaves obtained in this way are perpendicularly orientated towards the copper substrate and are mechanically stable. This results in a high electron transfer rate between CuO and the substrate. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and cyclic voltammetry were employed to characterize the morphology, growth, structure, and electrochemical properties of the CuO nanoleaf electrode. It exhibits excellent nonenzymatic response to H2O2 and glucose in 0.1 mol · L−1 NaOH solution, with a wide linear range, good reproducibility, and detection limits of 10 μmol · L−1 for H2O2, and 1 μmol · L−1 for glucose. The facile preparation, high electrocatalytic activity and response time of <5 s demonstrate the potential applications of the new sensor.