Facile fabrication of CuO nanowire modified Cu electrode for non-enzymatic glucose detection with enhanced sensitivity

In this paper the fabrication of CuO nanowires (CuO NWs) by a facile two-step method is reported. Cu(OH)(2) nanowires (Cu(OH)(2) NWs) on a copper surface were prepared at room temperature by a simple solution-based procedure, and subsequent calcinations of Cu(OH)(2) NWs led to the formation of CuO NWs. The morphologies and structures of Cu(OH)(2) NWs and CuO NWs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Electrochemical measurements showed that the CuO NWs modified Cu electrode exhibited good electrocatalytic behavior for the detection of glucose with a wide linear range from 2 mu M to 3.56 mM (R-2 = 0.9984), a low detection limit down to 0.05 mu M, and a high sensitivity of 1886.3 mu A mM(-1) cm(-2). The sensor also displayed a high selectivity, an acceptable reproducibility, an excellent long-term stability and good repeatability. Moreover, the as-prepared sensor has great potential in practical applications.