Template-free growth of copper-doped hydroxyapatite nanowhiskers and their use as uric acid electrochemical sensor

We have synthesized copper-doped hydroxyapatite (Cu HAp) bioceramic nanowhiskers (aspect ratio > 85) by a surfactant-free hydrothermal route. The detailed structural and compositional characterizations confirm the existence of catalytic multivalent Cu1+/Cu2+ dopant ions and secondary beta TCP phase. The dopant-induced ox-ygen vacancies promote active sites on the mesoporous surface (specific area -60.4 m2/g) for electrochemical applications. The electrochemical studies of the fabricated Cu HAp FTO revealed good response, sensitivity and stability towards uric acid (lowest stable detection limit-0.5 mu M) in the lower and higher concentration regimes respectively. Thus, our fabricated Cu HAp shows surface-dependent electrochemical activities and non -enzymatic selective response to uric acid.

Automated summary

In this study, copper-doped hydroxyapatite nanowhiskers were synthesized by a surfactant-free hydrothermal route. The fabricated material showed excellent electrochemical properties and non-enzymatic selective response to uric acid.