Hierarchical Cu-Co-Ni nanostructures electrodeposited on carbon nanofiber modified glassy carbon electrode: application to glucose detection

Hierarchical Cu-Co-Ni nanostructures (Cu-Co-Ni NSs) attached to carbon nanofibers (CNFs) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was prepared by electrodeposition. Scanning electron microscopy results indicated that many hierarchical Cu-Co-Ni NSs were formed and uniformly dispersed on the CNFs/GCE surface. The electrochemical behavior and electrocatalytic performance of the Cu-Co-Ni NSs/CNFs/GCE towards the oxidation of glucose were evaluated by cyclic voltammograms, chronoamperometry and amperometric methods. The results revealed that Cu-Co-Ni NSs/CNFs/GCE has a good electrocatalytic activity for glucose oxidation and could be used as a nonenzymatic glucose sensor. The sensor showed an acceptable linear range from 0.01 to 4.30 mM with a sensitivity of 104.68 mu A mM cm(-2), and a detection limit of 3.05 mM (S/N = 3). The good catalytic activity, high sensitivity, good selectivity and stability rendered the Cu-Co-Ni NSs/CNFs/GCE to be a promising electrode for constructing a nonenzymatic glucose sensor.