Sensitive and selective nonenzymatic glucose detection using functional NiO–Pt hybrid nanofibers

By calcining electrospun Ni(NO3)2–H2PtCl6–PVP composite nanofibers, Pt-doped NiO nanofibers have been successfully fabricated. Their morphologies were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, and structures were analyzed by X-ray diffraction. Tiny Pt nanoparticles (<10 nm) were dispersed in NiO matrix and the whole nanofiber displayed a rough surface and porous structure. The as-prepared hybrid nanofibers were employed for nonenzymatic glucose detection in alkaline electrolyte and showed greatly improved electrocatalytic activity compared to those obtained with pure NiO nanofibers and Pt nanofibers, with higher sensitivity (180.80 μA mM−1 cm−2), lower detection limit (313 nM), and good linear range (up to 3.67 mM). These results suggest that electrospun NiO–Pt hybrid nanofibers are a promising nanomaterial for design and fabrication of electrochemical devices for glucose detection.