A highly sensitive nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on NiO-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes

A highly sensitive and selective glucose biosensor has been constructed by using highly dispersed NiO nanoparticles supported on well-aligned MWCNTs (NiO/MWCNTs) as sensing interface. The NiO/MWCNTs nanocomposite was synthesized by magnetron sputtering deposition of NiO nanoparticles on vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. The nanocomposite electrode showed high electrochemical activity towards the oxidation of glucose in 0.20 M NaOH solution. At an applied potential of +0.50 V, it gives a fast response time (< 5 s) and a linear dependence (R = 0.997) on the glucose concentration up to 7.0 mM with an extraordinarily high sensitivity of 1.77 mA mM(-1) cm(-2) and a detection limit of 2 mu M. The interference by the oxidation of common interfering species such as ascorbic acid, dopamine, uric acid, lactose, and fructose is effectively avoided. The electrode was used to analyze glucose concentration in human serum samples. It allows highly sensitive, stable, and fast amperometric sensing of glucose, which is promising for the development of nonenzymatic glucose sensors.