Ultrasensitive and selective non-enzymatic glucose detection using copper nanowires

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Biosensors

Background:

• Development of cost-effective electrocatalysts is crucial for non-enzymatic glucose sensors.
• One-dimensional nanomaterials offer unique properties for electrochemical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize one-dimensional copper nanowires (Cu NWs) for non-enzymatic glucose detection.
• To evaluate the electrochemical performance of Cu NWs as an electrocatalyst for glucose oxidation.

Main Methods:

• Facile and scalable wet-chemistry synthesis of Cu NWs.
• Characterization using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS).
• Electrochemical evaluation via cyclic voltammetry and amperometry.

Main Results:

• Cu NWs exhibited uniform size distribution and high aspect ratio.
• The Cu NWs modified electrode showed a low limit of detection (35 nM) and high sensitivity (420.3 μA cm(-2) mM(-1)).
• The sensor demonstrated excellent selectivity, stability against oxygen and chloride, and accuracy in human serum samples.

Conclusions:

• Synthesized Cu NWs are effective electrocatalysts for sensitive and selective non-enzymatic glucose detection.
• The developed sensor shows high potential for practical applications in glucose monitoring, including in clinical settings.