Study on the electrochemical catalytic properties of the topological insulator Bi2Se3

In this work, the electrochemical catalytic properties of the topological insulator bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3) were first studied. In the presence of Bi2Se3 the reduction current of dissolved O2 could be significantly enhanced. The electron transfer resistivity (Rct) was greatly reduced at the Bi2Se3–PVP modified electrode as evidenced by the electrochemical impedance spectrometry, implying that the topological insulator Bi2Se3 could facilitate the electron transfer at the interface due to the excellent surface conductivity. Based on the high electrochemical catalytic activity for the reduction of dissolved O2, the Bi2Se3–PVP modified electrode was used to detect glucose with the modification of glucose oxidase, and applied for the detection of glucose in human blood serum.

► We first studied the electrochemical catalytic properties of the topological insulator Bi2Se3. ► Bi2Se3 has the high electrochemical catalytic activity for the reduction of dissolved O2. ► A glucose sensor was developed based on the electrochemical catalytic activity of Bi2Se3. ► With the modification of GOD, it is possible to use Bi2Se3 modified GCE to detect glucose in serum.