A highly sensitive non-enzymatic glucose sensor based on tremella-like Ni(OH)2 and Au nanohybrid films

•A glucose sensor was fabricated by combing the Ni(OH)2 with Au nanoparticles.•Enhanced electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose was observed at the Ni(OH)2/Au/GC.•Ni(OH)2/Au/GC exhibits good sensing properties with high sensitivity.•Common interfering species have no obvious effects on the oxidation of glucose.

A glucose sensor was fabricated by combing the Ni(OH)2 and Au nanoparticles with their own superior characteristics. The structure and morphology of tremella-like Ni(OH)2 and Ni(OH)2/Au nanohybrid film were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and ultraviolet–visible absorption spectrometry (UV–vis). The electrochemical properties of the sensor were explored by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. The investigation showed that the Ni(OH)2/Au nanohybrid film at the sensor exhibited a high electrocatalytic activity towards electrooxidation of glucose; and under the optimal conditions, the linear ranges of glucose were from 5 μM to 2.2 mM with a low detection limit of 0.92 μM (S/N = 3) and high sensitivity of 371.2 μA mM−1 cm−2. The results demonstrated that Ni(OH)2/Au nanocomposite film was promising to be a new platform for the construction of glucose biosensors.

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