Dual functional rhodium oxide nanocorals enabled sensor for both non-enzymatic glucose and solid-state pH sensing

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Developing dual-functional nanomaterials for simultaneous sensing is crucial for advanced diagnostics.
• Rhodium oxide (Rh₂O₃) has shown potential in various sensing applications.
• Electrospinning followed by calcination is an effective method for synthesizing nanostructured materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize pH-sensitive and glucose-responsive rhodium oxide nanocorals (Rh₂O₃ NCs).
• To fabricate and evaluate a dual sensor using Rh₂O₃ NCs for non-enzymatic glucose sensing and solid-state pH monitoring.
• To demonstrate the potential of Rh₂O₃ NCs as a high-performance dual-functional sensing material.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of Rh₂O₃ NCs via electrospinning and high-temperature calcination.
• Characterization using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy.
• Fabrication and testing of a dual sensor using open circuit potential, cyclic voltammetry, and amperometric techniques.

Main Results:

• The synthesized Rh₂O₃ NCs exhibited accurate and reversible pH sensitivity.
• The material showed good electrocatalytic activity for glucose oxidation with a sensitivity of 11.46 μA mM^-1 cm^-2 and a limit of detection of 3.1 μM.
• The sensor demonstrated reasonable selectivity and accuracy in human serum samples for glucose detection.

Conclusions:

• The developed Rh₂O₃ NCs function effectively as a dual-sensing material for both pH and non-enzymatic glucose.
• These nanocorals offer a promising platform for creating high-performance sensors for simultaneous solid-state pH and glucose monitoring.
• The study highlights the potential of Rh₂O₃ NCs in advanced diagnostic and analytical applications.