In situ fabrication of Cu2O array electrode for efficient detection of acetaminophen

Abstract

In this paper, Cu(OH)2 nanosheet arrays were directly grown in an upright manner on the surface of copper foam (CF) through a simple solvent reaction, followed by the successful reduction of Cu(OH)2 into Cu2O using hydrazine hydrate vapor, resulting in a binder-free Cu2O@CF array electrode. The in situ growth technique guarantees robust bonding between Cu2O and the conductive substrate, thereby enhancing electron transfer among various electrode components. Additionally, the vertically aligned array structures facilitate rapid penetration and transfer of the analyte, while also allowing for thorough exposure of the electroactive surfaces to the electrolyte. When utilized as an adhesive-free biosensor, the obtained Cu2O@CF array electrode exhibited sensitive catalytic oxidation activity toward acetaminophen (AP), providing a wide linear range of 2–200 [Formula: see text]M and a low detection limit of 0.6 [Formula: see text]M for AP detection. Furthermore, the developed Cu2O@CF array electrode was successfully utilized to detect AP in medicine samples. With its simple fabrication method, broad linear range, low detection limit, and excellent stability, this electrode holds significant promise for the detection of AP in pharmaceuticals.