Layer-by-layer assembly of copper nanoparticles and manganese dioxide-multiwalled carbon nanotubes film: A new nonenzymatic electrochemical sensor for glucose

• Three-dimension (3D) morphology of Cu-MnO2-MWCNTs nanocomposites is very novel.
• Copper nanoparticles have a fairly narrow nanoparticle size distribution.
• The copper nanoparticles were applied to fabricate a non-enzymatic glucose sensor.
• This sensor exhibits remarkable catalytic performance for glucose detection.

A nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on Cu/MnO2/MWCNTs nanocomposite modified glass carbon electrode was fabricated by an electrochemical method. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) measurement showed that MnO2 in the nanocomposite held a nanostructure of three-dimension (3D) spheres assembled by many densely arranged nanosheets. The electrocatalytic activity of the present sensor toward the oxidation of glucose was investigated by amperometry. The current response was linearly related to glucose concentration in a range from 6.4×10−7–2.0×10−3 mol L−1 with a sensitivity of 494 μA mM−1 cm−2 and a correlation coefficient of 0.9990, and another range from 10 to 1000 μM with a sensitivity of 1302 μA mM−1 cm−2 and a correlation coefficient of 0.9990. The detection limit was estimated to be 0.17 μM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, and the response time was found to be 3 s.

The Cu/MnO2/MWCNTs nanocomposites accelerate the electron transfer and successfully realized glucose catalytic oxidation.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide