Mesocrystalline Cu2O hollow nanocubes: synthesis and application in non-enzymatic amperometric detection of hydrogen peroxide and glucose

Abstract

Mesocrystalline Cu₂O hollow nanocubes (MCHNs) were successfully prepared by a facile reduction reaction under room temperature. CuCl₂ played a dual role as both copper source and morphology controlling reagent for the oriented aggregation of primary Cu₂O crystallites toward MCHNs. Due to the high crystallinity and high specific surface area, the as-prepared MCHNs exhibited high electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and oxidation of glucose. The non-enzymatic amperometric biosensors based on the MCHNs demonstrated a detection limit of 1.03 μM and a sensitivity of 156.6 μA mM⁻¹ for H₂O₂, as well as a detection limit of 0.87 μM and sensitivity of 52.5 μA mM⁻¹ for glucose. The high sensitivities and anti-interference ability made the MCHNs a promising material in non-enzymatic biosensors.