Amperometric glucose sensor based on nickel nanoparticles/carbon Vulcan XC-72R

A stable non-enzymatic glucose sensor was constructed by chemical deposition of nickel nanoparticles on carbon Vulcan XC-72R using microwave irradiation technique. The mode and time of microwave irradiation during nickel salt reduction were varied. This was found to affect the morphology of formed Ni/C powder as evidenced by TEM analysis. Nickel nanoparticles aggregation becomes more serious at longer microwave irradiation times. The electrocatalytic activity of different Ni/C samples towards glucose oxidation was studied in KOH solution by employing cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques. Ni/C sample, prepared by pulse mode with total operating time of 150s, showed the highest oxidation current density. An excellent sensitivity value of 1349.7μAmM(-1)cm(-2) with a detection limit of 0.232μM was gained by Ni/C sensor. It also exhibits good reproducibility and long-term stability, as well as high selectivity with insignificant interference from ascorbic acid.