Mixed-solvent liquid exfoliated MoS₂ NPs as peroxidase mimetics for colorimetric detection of H₂O₂ and glucose

Ultra-small molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles (MoS₂ NPs) were prepared by a facile liquid exfoliation method with ethanol/water as the solvent. The produced MoS₂ NPs were of high purity due to the easily removable ethanol/water solution. The prepared MoS₂ NPs exhibited an intrinsic peroxidase-like activity in analogy to that of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). A custom-made spectrometer was employed to investigate the peroxidase-like activity of MoS₂ NPs in the presence of H₂O₂ and glucose. The change in absorption detected from MoS₂ NPs is proportional to the amount of target. The calibration curve of H₂O₂ and glucose shows a good relationship between the concentration of target and the change in the absorption of MoS₂ NPs. The limit of detection of H₂O₂ and glucose achieved by this method could approach 1.25 μM and 7 μM respectively. This method has been applied for the detection of glucose in serum from humans. Therefore, these produced MoS₂ NPs offer an alternative high-efficiency and economic way to detect diabetes.