Tailored design of Ni(OH)(2) nanocages internally decorated with CuS nanocages to mutually ameliorate electrocatalytic dynamics for highly sensitive glucose detection

It is promising to combine transition metal hydroxides/oxides (TMHs/TMOs) with transition metal sulfides (TMSs) to construct multi-shelled hollow porous structures for analytical sensing of glucose. Herein, the well-defined CuS@Ni(OH)(2) double-shelled nanocages (CuS@Ni(OH)(2) DSNCs) are successfully fabricated for the first time through the coordinated etching and precipitation (CEP) method coupled with further sulfidation, and then employed as advanced electrodes materials for glucose detection. The decoration of CuS NCs into Ni (OH)(2) NCs not only regulates the conductivity significantly, but also promotes the electrocatalytic activity. Tailored designs yield deferent-shelled HPSs with large surface areas, which accelerates electron transfer rate with superior volume occupying rate, leading to very desirable electrocatalytic dynamics. Consequently, CuS@Ni(OH)(2) DSNCs modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) manifested superior electrocatalytic performance to that of single-shelled counterparts on account of two satisfying sensitivities of 1106.9 and 317.1 mu A mM(-1) cm(-2) within the linear ranges of 0.002-1.4 mM and 1.4-5.3 mM, respectively. Furthermore, CuS@Ni(OH)(2) DSNCs presented ideal detection limit as low as 0.28 mu M, and short response time of 1.25 s. Overall, CuS@Ni(OH)(2) DSNCs is promising for analytical sensing of glucose thanks to its prominent electrocatalytic dynamics, which a synergetic effect of Ni(OH)(2) NCs and CuS NCs.

Automated summary

By combining CuS and Ni(OH)2 into double-shell structures, CuS@Ni(OH)2 double-shelled nanocages were successfully fabricated and applied for glucose detection. This double-shell structure exhibits superior electrocatalytic performance and ideal detection limit, showing great potential in analytical sensing.