Leafy copper-cobalt nanostructures/three-dimensional porous carbon for glucose sensing

A novel non-enzymatic glucose sensor was developed by electrodepositing leafy copper-cobalt nanostructures (Cu-Co NSs) on the persimmon-derived three-dimensional macroporous carbon (PD3DMC). The electrochemical behaviors and the electrocatalytic performances towards the oxidation of glucose of the Cu-Co NSs/PD3DMC were evaluated by cyclic voltammograms, chronoamperometry, and amperometric method. Compared with the sensors based on monometal Cu or Co, the Cu-Co NSs/PD3DMC sensor based on bimetal exhibited good electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of glucose. The effects of the electrodeposition potential and the molar ratio of Cu2+ and Co2+ in the electrodeposition solution on the electrocatalytic performance of the resulted Cu-Co NSs/PD3DMC were explored in detail. The optimum catalytic activity of the sensor towards the oxidation of glucose can achieve under the optimized conditions the electrodepositing potential of - 1.2 V and the Cu2+/Co2+ molar ratio of 1:20. The catalytic current density was linear to the glucose concentration in the range of 0.002-2.73 mM (R = 0.9977) with a sensitivity of 2.21 mA cm(-2) mM(-1) and a detection limit of 0.7 mu M.