Dumbbell shaped nanocomposite Co3O4/CeO2 derived from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as an excellent non-enzymatic glucose sensor

Abstract

Researchers in the field of electrochemistry have recently become interested in the extraordinary features of ternary transition metal oxide nanostructures with spinel structure derived from metal-organic framework (MOFs). In this study, the zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67), which grows in situ on the surface of another metal organic framework (Ce-BTC), was created using the internal expansion growth method (IEGM), and the resulting complex was then used as a template to create the dumbbell-like nanocomposite. Due to the strong electron conduction of CeO2 in composites, the electrode modified with composite material has good electrochemical activity in alkaline solution. As a glucose sensor, Co3O4/CeO2 nanocomposite modified glass carbon electrode (Co3O4/CeO2/GCE) has better performance with a detection range of 83.75 μM–2796.84 μM, a reasonably good sensitivity of 790.746 μA mM−1·cm−2, an estimated detection limit of 5.5 μA (S/N = 3) and a short response time less than 3s. The modified electrode can continue to function normally even when exposed to various interfering compounds for extended periods of time in the air. The successful use of this enzyme-free glucose sensor in fruit juice demonstrates its remarkable performance and provides ideas for future applications.