Carbon cloth supported NiAl-layered double hydroxides for flexible application and highly sensitive electrochemical sensors

A novel flexible, non-enzymatic glucose sensor with ultrahigh sensitivity and fast response, based on NiAl-layered double hydroxide (NiAl-LDH) modified carbon cloth (CC) electrode, has been successfully fabricated. Curved NiAl-LDH sheets based 3D macroporous films were prepared by an in situ growth technique, which provided a large surface area and great electronic/ionic conductivity between CC and LDH. The resulting electrodes exhibit ultrahigh sensitivity toward glucose detection, providing a sensitivity up to 14.13 mA mM−1 cm−2 and response time less than 1 s. In addition, the electrocatalytic activity of the glucose sensor decreases in proportion to the area of the CC. Half-sized electrodes provide a sensitivity up to 13.48 mA mM−1 cm−2 and response time less than 2 s. Due to the unique structure of the resulting electrode, this flexible application and ultrahigh sensitivity of the NiAl-LDH/CC sensor open up a new type of hybrid material for portable, low-cost glucose sensors.