Rapid and scalable route to CuS biosensors: a microwave-assisted Cu-complex transformation into CuS nanotubes for ultrasensitive nonenzymatic glucose sensor

Abstract

We report the rapid, scalable and economical strategy—microwave-assisted Cu-complex transformation route to fabricate CuS nanotubes with high quality based on a preferential chemical transformation and crystallization process. With the Cu-complex Cu(TU)Cl·0.5H₂O (TU = thiourea) nanowires formed in ambient conditions as self-sacrificed template, uniform CuS nanotubes with rectangular cross-sections were synthesized in high yield. The diameter of these CuS nanotubes with rectangular cross-sections can be effectively tuned through changing chemical reaction parameters, such as reaction time, temperature, and solvent. Furthermore, uniform cone-like CuS nanotubes were also successfully prepared by adopting Cu-EBT (EBT = eriochrome black T) complex nanorods as precursors. These nanoporous CuS nanotubes with rectangular cross-sections have been confirmed to be very effective as nonenzymatic glucose sensors. The CuS nanotube-modified electrode shows excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of glucose and good linear dependence and high sensitively to glucose concentration change.