Highly sensitive nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on nickel nanoparticle–attapulgite-reduced graphene oxide-modified glassy carbon electrode

•A facile one-step electrochemical co-deposition approach is adopted, referring to simultaneous depositions of, attapulgite (ATP), cathodic reduction of Ni2+ into nickel nanoparticles under acidic conditions, and in situ reduction of graphene oxide (GO).•The size and morphology of Ni nanoparticles will be improved by introduction of co-deposition of ATP, resulting in enhancement in electrochemical activity.•The as-prepared NiNPs/ATP/RGO-based glucose sensor exhibits outstanding performance for enzymeless glucose sensing with sensitivity (1414.4 μA mM−1 cm−2), linear range (1–710 μM) and detection limit (0.37 μM).•NiNPs/ATP/RGO exhibited a high selectivity towards glucose against the interferents, such as ascorbic acid (AA), 4-Aminophenol (AP), and uric acid (UA).

In this article, a fast and sensitive nonenzymatic glucose sensor is reported utilizing a glassy carbon electrode modified by synthesizing nanocomposites of nickel nanoparticle–attapulgite-reduced graphene oxide (Ni NPs/ATP/RGO). A facile one-step electrochemical co-deposition approach is adopted to synthesize Ni NPs-ATP-RGO nanocomposites via electrochemical reduction of mixed precursor solution containing graphene oxide (GO), attapulgite (ATP) and nickel cations (Ni2+) at the cathode potentials. This strategy results in simultaneous depositions of ATP, cathodic reduction of Ni2+ into nickel nanoparticles under acidic conditions, and in situ reduction of GO. The as-prepared NiNPs/ATP/RGO-based glucose sensor exhibits outstanding performance for enzymeless glucose sensing with sensitivity (1414.4 μA mM−1 cm−2), linear range (1–710 μM) and detection limit (0.37 μM). What is more, the sensor has excellent stability and selectivity against common interferences in real sample.

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