High performance Cu/CuO nanohybrid electrocatalyst for nonenzymatic glucose detection.

Here we report Cu/CuO nanocomposites prepared via potential oscillation. High resolution transmission electron microscopy images reveal a homogeneous distribution of Cu and CuO in the composite. Due to the synergistic effect between Cu and CuO, the nanohybrids show much lower resistivity and higher glucose oxidation activity (a lower over-potential and higher current-output) compared to the CuO counterpart. As an example of application, a nanocomposite-based electrode is employed for a nonenzymatic glucose biosensor application, and exhibits a linear detection upper limit of 40 mM, a sensitivity of 1434.12 μA cm mM, and good selectivity.