Electrochemical deposition of Ni nanoparticles decorated ZnO hexagonal prisms as an effective platform for non-enzymatic detection of glucose

• A simple two-step electrodeposition of Ni nanoparticles decorated ZnO hexagonal prisms.
• Owing to the synergistic effect of ZnO and Ni, the sensor showed excellent electrocatalytic activity for glucose.
• The sensor exhibited excellent selectivity (824.34 μA mM− 1 cm− 2), wide linear range (1 μM to 8.1 mM), and low detection (0.28 μM).
• The simple preparation procedure, low cost, potentially paves a new way for glucose sensors in practical application.

Zinc oxide hexagonal prisms (ZnO) decorated with nickel nanoparticles (Ni) onto a glassy carbon by a facile two-step electrochemical strategy. The resulting Ni-ZnO modified electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and electrochemical methods. Incorporating the lager surface area of ZnO 3D scaffold and high electrocatalytic activity of Ni, the prepared Ni-ZnO modified electrode possessed strong electrocatalytic ability toward glucose. At the optimum conditions, the calibration curve for glucose determination was linear in the range of 1 μM to 8.1 mM, a high sensitivity of 824.34 μA mM− 1 cm− 2 and a low detection limit (S/N = 3) of 0.28 μM were obtained. In addition, the proposed sensor was successfully applied to analyze glucose level in human blood serum samples.

Graphic abstractThe schematic illustration for the prepared sensor of Ni–Zn/GCE electrode and the sensing mechanism of glucose by the Ni-ZnO/GCE electrode.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide