Nitrogen-doped carbon dodecahedron embedded with cobalt nanoparticles for the direct electro-oxidation of glucose and efficient nonenzymatic glucose sensing

Developing high-performance sensors for glucose detection is extremely desirable for clinical diagnostics and life sciences. Particularly, it is greatly attractive to exploit composite materials with large surface area, doped heterojunction and non-precious metal as highly active electro-catalysts for nonenzymatic glucose sensing. Herein, we reported a N-doped carbon dodecahedron embedded with Co nanoparticles (Co@NCD) for the direct electro-oxidation of glucose and efficient nonenzymatic glucose detection. Co@NCD was synthesized by the pyrolysis of zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF). Field emission scanning electron microscope, high-resolution transmission electron microscope, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and nitrogen adsorption-desorption experiments were performed to investigate Co@NCD. A well-defined dodecahedron morphology with uniform size and shape was observed. Besides, the original framework was carbonized after pyrolysis leading to a hollow and porous graphite dodecahedron containing N-doped carbon heterojunction. Moreover, Co nanoparticles were evenly distributed into the dodecahedron. With porous structure, N-doped carbon and embedded Co nanoparticles, Co@NCD displayed a notable electro-catalysis towards the direct oxidation of glucose (onset potential: 0.20 V). By using Co@NCD as electro-catalyst, an efficient nonenzymatic glucose sensor was obtained with a rapid amperometric response (within 1 s), low detection limit (0.11 μM) and broad detection range (0.2 μM-12.0 mM). In addition, remarkable selectivity, repeatability, reproducibility and long-term stability were also observed. Finally, Co@NCD prepared sensor was also successfully applied to the detection of glucose in human serum. Our results suggested that ZIF templated method could be an innovative solution for active composite catalysts in biomolecular electro-catalysis and Co@NCD prepared sensor could be a substantial preferable sensing platform for the nonenzymatic glucose detection.