Nonenzymatic Glucose Sensing Using Ni₆₀Nb₄₀ Nanoglass

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Metallic glasses, despite extensive research, have limited exploration in chemical applications.
• Electrochemical nonenzymatic glucose sensing is crucial for diabetes management and diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the electrochemical nonenzymatic glucose-sensing ability of nickel-niobium (Ni₆₀Nb₄₀) amorphous alloys.
• To compare the glucose-sensing performance of Ni₆₀Nb₄₀ with varying microstructures (melt-spun ribbon, nanoglass, amorphous-crystalline nanocomposite).

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of three different Ni₆₀Nb₄₀ systems with varying microstructures.
• Electrochemical testing of glucose-sensing performance in an alkaline medium.
• Annealing experiments to assess the stability and retained properties of the materials.

Main Results:

• Nanoglass exhibited the best glucose-sensing performance, characterized by high anodic current density, sensitivity (20 mA cm^-2 mM^-1), and a low limit of detection (100 nM).
• Nanoglass demonstrated excellent stability and reproducibility (over 5000 cycles) and high sensing accuracy.
• Only heat-treated nanoglass retained its electrochemical-sensing properties after vacuum annealing, unlike other microstructures.

Conclusions:

• Ni₆₀Nb₄₀ nanoglass is a highly promising material for nonenzymatic glucose sensing.
• The enhanced sensitivity in nanoglass is attributed to its network of glassy interfaces.
• Further research into metallic glasses for electrochemical sensing applications is warranted.