CuO nanoparticles incorporated in hierarchical MFI zeolite as highly active electrocatalyst for non-enzymatic glucose sensing

•The hierarchical zeolite has micro/meso bimodal pore structures.•High content of CuO NPs were incorporated into the hierarchical zeolite.•The modified electrode exhibits the excellent electrocatalysis to glucose oxidation in alkaline.

A hierarchical MFI zeolite, with typical micro/meso bimodal pore structures, was prepared by desilication method. CuO nanoparticles (NPs) were incorporated into the hierarchical MFI zeolite by impregnation method. CuO/hierarchical zeolite composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and nitrogen sorption. It is shown that the CuO nanoparticles are mostly dispersed in the mesopores with remaining of the crystallinity and morphology of the host zeolite. CuO nanoparticles located in hierarchical zeolite exhibit the excellent electrocatalytic performances to oxidation of glucose in alkaline media. The electrocatalytic activity enhances with increasing the loading content of CuO from 5% to 15%. The composites were fabricated for nonenzyme glucose sensing. Under the optimal conditions, the sensor shows a wide linear range from 5 × 10−7 to 1.84 × 10−2 M with a low detection limit of 3.7 × 10−7 M. The sensor also exhibits good repeatability, long-term stability as well as high selectivity against interfering species.

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