Mesoporous CuO: Alternative enzyme-free glucose sensing structure with excellent kinetics of electrode process

Abstract

Mesoporous CuO nanomaterials were synthesised via a simple hydrothermal method. The morphology and chemical composition of the prepared product was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The modification of mesoporous CuO on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). The electrochemical behavior of mesoporous CuO modified GC electrode toward glucose was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometric transients. Under the optimal experimental condition, the mesoporous CuO modified GC electrode showed good analytical signals in the glucose concentration range of 30–160 μM with sensitivity of 0.08 μA μM⁻¹ (R = 0.998), and at 170–310 μM with sensitivity of 0.04 μA μM⁻¹ (R = 0.997). The mesoporous CuO nanomaterial provides excellent sensitivity, low-potential, and stable amperometric sensing of glucose, which is promising for the development of non-enzymatic glucose sensors.