Improvement of sensitive CuO NFs–ITO nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on in situ electrospun fiber

• Published in: Talanta (Oxford) 2012-11, Vol.101, p.24-31
• Main Authors: Liu, Guangyue, Zheng, Baozhan, Jiang, Yanshu, Cai, Yuqing, Du, Juan, Yuan, Hongyan, Xiao, Dan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Chemistry; Copper oxide; Electrochemical methods; Electrospun nanofibers; Exact sciences and technology; General, instrumentation; Non-enzymatic glucose sensors
• ISSN: 0039-9140; 1873-3573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2012.08.040

CuO nanofibers (NFs), prepared by electrospinning and calcination technologies, have been applied for the fabrication of glucose sensors with high sensitivity and selectivity. Cu(NO3)2 and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) composite nanofibers were initially electrospun on the surface of indium tin oxide (ITO) glass, and then the CuO NFs–ITO electrode was formed simply by removing PVP through heat treatment. The structures and morphologies of CuO nanofibers were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The direct electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose in alkaline medium at CuO NFs–ITO electrode has also been investigated in detail with cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The effects of NaOH concentration, electrospinning time, Cu(NO3)2:PVP mass ratios and calcination temperature on the response to glucose were investigated. Under optimized experimental conditions, the CuO NFs–ITO electrode produced high and reproducible sensitivity to glucose of 873μAmM−1cm−2. Linear responses were obtained over a concentration range from 0.20μM to 1.3mM with a detection limit of 40nM (S/N=3). The CuO NFs–ITO electrode also has good selectivity, stability and fast amperometic sensing of glucose, thus it can be used for the future development of non-enzymatic glucose sensors. ► CuO NFs sensor prepared by electrospun method has a high sensitivity to glucose. ► Direct electron transfer between CuO and ITO ensures fast response to glucose. ► Sensor shows a stable amperometric response to glucose. ► CuO NFs/ITO electrode has a potential application for the routine analysis of glucose.