Recent trends and prospective developments in metal oxide composites-based electrochemical nonenzymatic glucose...

Diabetes mellitus is among the fastest-growing chronic diseases worldwide, with its prevalence increasing at an alarming rate across various populations. Recent advancements notably impact the swift development of nonenzymatic glucose sensors within the fields of nanotechnology and materials science. This review comprehensively examines the relationship between nanostructure design and sensor performance, emphasizing the importance of controlling nanomaterial dimensions to enhance selectivity, specificity, sensitivity, and stability. We discuss various electrode materials' unique nanostructures and highlight innovative fabrication methods that improve glucose detection in alkaline media. This review briefly summarizes the direct oxidation of glucose by metallic redox centers, explaining the underlying mechanisms using the chemisorption model combined with the incipient hydrous oxide/adatom mediator (IHOAM) model. It then highlights recent advances in nonenzymatic glucose sensors based on transition metal oxides (such as CuO, NiO, Co₃O₄, IrO₂, Rh₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, MnO₂, TiO₂, ZnO, and intermixed metal oxides). Additionally, we discuss the advantages and challenges associated with selectivity in nonenzymatic glucose sensing, while proposing practical strategies for optimization. Finally, this review aims to promote further progress in the design and synthesis of nanostructured materials by offering an extensive analysis of current research and future perspectives.