Synthesis of hierarchical three-dimensional CuO spindles for highly sensitive glucose determination

Hierarchical three-dimensional copper oxide (CuO) spindles were prepared via a hydrothermal process. The as-prepared CuO spindles assembled from nanoslices were characterised by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The obtained hierarchical structure exhibited numerous particle boundaries acting as active sites for glucose oxidation in an alkaline solution. Chronomaperometric studies showed that under an optimal applied potential of +0.5 V versus Ag/AgCl, the as-prepared CuO electrode exhibited a broad detection range from 0.001 to 3.0 mM with a sensitivity of ca. 3000 A mM(-1) cm(-2) and a low detection limit of 0.3 M. The CuO spindle electrode also demonstrated excellent selectivity to glucose oxidation in the presence of several electro-active species.