Enzyme-Free Glucose Detection via Scalable and Economical Fabrication of Nickel-Polyvinylpyrrolidone-Modified Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Development of accurate, reliable, and affordable glucose detection tools remains a top scientific priority. Nanotechnology is frequently utilized for this purpose. In this study, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-modified nickel (Ni) nanoparticles on multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) were prepared using a unique microwave synthesis technique. The synthesized particles were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). TEM analysis revealed that well-dispersed Ni nanoparticles with an average size of about 4.11 nm were uniformly dispersed on the MWCNT surface in the presence of PVP particles. The obtained NiPVP@MWCNT was used for the glucose sensor and its performance was investigated. According to the results, the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values for NiPVP@MWCNT nanocomposite in the linear range of 0.1 mM - 1 mM were calculated as 0.364 mM and 1.215 mM, respectively. As a result of the selectivity test, it was observed that it was highly selective for glucose and the current values increased with increasing concentration. Our study shows that the cost of platinum, which is widely used in electrochemical sensors, can be reduced by the application of polymeric structures. This leads to a more stable structure. The developed nanostructures are efficient, highly stable, discriminative, and sensitive and have the potential to be used as glucose sensors in the market.