Non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensor based on platinum nanoflowers supported on graphene oxide

A non-enzymatic electrochemical method was developed for glucose detection using a glassy carbon electrode modified with platinum nanoflowers supported on graphene oxide (PtNFs-GO). PtNFs-GO was synthesized using a nontoxic, rapid, one-pot and template-free method. Low-cost, green solvent ethanol acted as the reductant, and the advanced and effective 2D carbon material-GO nanosheet acted as the stabilizing material. Their morphologies were characterized using transmission electron microscopy. Cyclic voltammetry and amperometric methods were used to evaluate the electrocatalytic activity towards glucose in neutral media. The modified electrode exhibited strong and sensitive amperometric responses to glucose even in the presence of a high concentration of chloride ions. The response time was within 5s. The interference effects from ascorbic acid and uric acid were comparatively small when operated at suitable potential. Under optimal detection potential (0.47 V with a saturated calomel reference electrode) the PtNFs-GO modified electrode performed a current response towards glucose at a broad concentration range from 2 μM to 20.3mM. Two linear regions could be observed at 2 μM to 10.3mM with a sensitivity of 1.26 μA mM(-1)cm(-2) (correlation coefficient 0.9968), and at 10.3mM to 20.3mM with a sensitivity of 0.64 μA mM(-1)cm(-2)(correlation coefficient 0.9969). The LOD of 2 μM was lower than many non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensors. The modified electrode was also applied to the determination of glucose in glucose injection solutions, and the satisfactory results obtained indicated that it was promising for the development of a novel non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensor.