Ultrasensitive binder-free glucose sensors based on the pyrolysis of in situ grown Cu MOF

•HKUST-1 (Cu-BTC) was directly grown on different copper substrates by anodic electrodeposition.•Cu nanoparticles embedded in the porous carbon matrix materials were successfully fabricated on the Cu foam without binder.•The as-prepared electrode displays ultrahigh sensitivity, low detection limit and long stability for glucose sensors.

A non-enzymatic glucose sensor based on carbon/Cu composite materials was developed by the in-situ growth and subsequent pyrolysis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) on Cu foam. After pyrolysis, SEM, HRTEM and STEM-EELS were employed to clarify the hierarchical Cu@porous carbon electrode. It is found that the Cu nanoparticles are uniformly embedded in the carbon matrix, carbon matrix in close contact with the pyrolized carbon sheets. The electrocatalytic activity of the Cu@porous carbon matrix electrode for glucose sensing was explored by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry. The resulting Cu@porous carbon matrix electrode displays ultrahigh sensitivity (10.1 mA cm−2 mM−1), low detection limit (0.6 μM), short response time (less than 2 s) and good stability, indicating that the developed electrode is a promising glucose sensor.

Graphical abstractA non-enzymatic glucose sensor based on carbon/Cu composite materials was developed by the in-situ growth and subsequent pyrolysis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) on Cu foam. After pyrolysis, the Cu nanoparticles are uniformly embedded in the carbon matrix, attached on the carbon layer closely. The resulting Cu@porous carbon matrix electrode displays ultrahigh sensitivity (10.1 mA cm−2 mM−1), low detection limit (0.6 μM), short response time (less than 2 s) and good stability, indicating that the developed electrode is a promising glucose sensor.Download high-res image (153KB)Download full-size image