High-Performance Enzyme-Free Glucose Sensor with Co-Cu Nanorod Arrays on Si Substrates

Glucose sensors have been extensively researched in patent studies and manufactured a tool for clinical diabetes diagnosis. Although some kinds of electrochemical enzymatic glucose sensors have been commercially successful, there is still room for improvement, in selectivity and reliability of these sensors. Because of the intrinsic disadvantages of enzymes, such as high fabrication cost and poor stability, non-enzymatic glucose sensors have recently been promoted as next generation diagnostic tool due to their relatively low cost, high stability, prompt response, and accuracy.

In this research, a novel free standing and binder free non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor was manufactured using in situ grown copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co) on a silicon (Si) substrate.

Scanning High-Energy Electron Diffraction (SHEED) and Edward deposition methods were used to synthesise the sensors.

Morphological observations showed that Cu and Co homogeneously formed nanorod-like shapes over the Si substrate. The elemental composition and structure of the prepared sensors were identified by Reflection High-Energy Electron Diffraction (RHEED). In terms of electrochemical properties, for the enzyme-free glucose sensor, voltammograms showed that the peak currents increased when the glucose solution was injected into the electrolytic cell. The electrical relation of voltage versus current was linear, as shown in the experimental data. Another effective parameter changed the magnetic field; and the linear behaviour of the electrical resistance of Co remained unaltered.

In the optimum annealing temperature, where the magnetic field increased, the properties of the samples remained constant. In other words, in the selected annealing temperature, resistance and stability of the layers increased in a significant manner.