High performance Cu/Cu₂O nanohybrid electrocatalyst for nonenzymatic glucose detection

Here we report Cu/Cu₂O nanocomposites prepared via potential oscillation. High resolution transmission electron microscopy images reveal a homogeneous distribution of Cu and Cu₂O in the composite. Due to the synergistic effect between Cu and Cu₂O, the nanohybrids show much lower resistivity and higher glucose oxidation activity (a lower over-potential and higher current-output) compared to the Cu₂O counterpart. As an example of application, a nanocomposite-based electrode is employed for a nonenzymatic glucose biosensor application, and exhibits a linear detection upper limit of 40 mM, a sensitivity of 1434.12 μA cm^-2 mM^-1, and good selectivity.