Facet-Dependent Cu2O Electrocatalysis for Wearable Enzyme-Free Smart Sensing

Exploiting electrocatalysis for wearable enzyme-free biosensors and biofuel cells has recently greatly developed in preliminary medical diagnosis and human healthcare fields. Herein, several facet-controlled cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanostructures have been systematically fabricated to investigate the facet-dependent electrocatalysis mechanism. As a result, cuboctahedral Cu2O with a hollow structure exhibits optimal sensing performance for glucose detection compared with octahedral or extended hexapod Cu2O. The facet-dependent sensing process reveals that Cu2O{100} and Cu2O{111} facets are helpful in acquiring a higher interaction with enzyme-free substrates and accelerating electron transfer, respectively, to improve electrocatalytic activity. As a proof of concept, combined with a portable wireless device, wearable Cu2O enzymefree biofuel cell systems can achieve glucose sensing by both open circuit potential and power output signals, which would potentially be used for a wearable enzyme-free energy platform. Therefore, this wearable enzyme-free smart sensing concept would help in the targeted establishment of biomarker electrocatalysts, and further offers considerable promise for the development of biofuel cells in the wearable healthcare monitoring field.

Automated summary

Recent developments in utilizing electrocatalysis for wearable enzyme-free biosensors and biofuel cells have shown that facet-controlled cuprous oxide nanostructures, particularly cuboctahedral Cu2O with a hollow structure, exhibit optimal sensing performance for glucose detection. The facet-dependent sensing process reveals that Cu2O{100} and Cu2O{111} facets are beneficial in improving interaction with enzyme-free substrates and accelerating electron transfer.