Glucose sensor based on Pd nanosheets deposited on Cu/Cu₂O nanocomposites by galvanic replacement

A novel non-enzymatic glucose sensor was established by galvanic replacement synthesis of Pd nanosheets (PdNS) on Cu/Cu₂O nanocomposites using fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates. To prepare PdNS-Cu/Cu₂O/FTO electrode, Cu/Cu₂O nanocomposites were firstly deposited on FTO electrode through potential oscillating, and then Pd nanosheets were synthesized on Cu/Cu₂O nanocomposites by galvanic replacement reduction. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were applied to investigate the morphology and composition of PdNS-Cu/Cu₂O nanohybrids. The synthesized PdNS-Cu/Cu₂O exhibited great electrochemical activity toward glucose oxidation. Under optimized conditions, the proposed glucose sensor displayed a wide linear range from 0.5 μM to 2600 μM with detection limit of 0.1 μM. In addition, the proposed electrode was used to determine glucose in true blood specimen, indicating potential application for routine glucose analysis.