Ultrahigh Performance Self-Supported Cl-Cu2O@Cu Foam Electrode Fabricated by Sonochemical Surface Reconstruction Approach

Unlike powdery transition metal oxide (TMO) coated electrodes, self-supported TMO electrodes have attracted considerable interests for optimizing the electrocatalytic performances of electrodes due to sufficient exposure of active sites and improved TMO-substrate interfaces. However, conventional manufacture methods for self-supported electrodes are faced with inefficiency and high complexity. Herein, a facile sonochemical surface reconstruction approach is proposed to fabricate Cl-doped Cu2O@Cu foam (Cl-Cu2O@Cu) electrode with ultrahigh sensitivity for glucose sensing. The intensive collapse of cavitation bubbles near Cu foam under sonication within NH4Cl solution, for this reason, massive Cu complex ions and highly active Cu surfaces are simultaneously generated. Then the nanosized Cu2O particles with large active surfaces are in situ formed and tightly anchored on the Cu surface, which undergoes Cl doping in Cu2O, resulting in ascending electrical conductivity. The Cl-Cu2O@Cu electrode shows excellent catalytic performance to glucose, presenting ultrahigh sensitivity of 28 mA cm(-2) x 10(-3) m and ultralow limit of detection of 0.35 x 10(-6) m (S/N = 3). This work promotes a novel approach for the rational design of self-supported electrochemical electrodes by sonochemistry.

Automated summary

This study presents a facile sonochemical surface reconstruction method to fabricate Cl-Cu2O@Cu electrode, which demonstrates excellent performance in glucose sensing. By in situ formation of Cu2O particles and Cl doping on the Cu surface, the electrical conductivity is enhanced, leading to improved sensitivity and detection limit for glucose sensing.