Hierarchical core-shell structured NiS/NiMoO nanowires: a high-performance and reusable electrochemical sensor for glucose detection

• Published in: Analyst (London) Vol. 144; no. 16; pp. 4925 - 4934
• Main Authors: Kannan, Palanisamy, Chen, Fangshuai, Jiang, Huasheng, Wang, Hui, Wang, Rongfang, Subramanian, Palaniappan, Ji, Shan
• Format: Journal Article
• Published: 05.08.2019
• ISSN: 0003-2654; 1364-5528
• DOI: 10.1039/c9an00917e

Designing highly active electrode is important for the fabrication of electrochemical sensing platforms, and core-shell nanostructures with large specific surface areas and ease of accessibility are effective probes for the detection of biomolecules. In this work, we report the development of hierarchical core-shell Ni 3 S 2 /NiMoO 4 nanowires on a nickel foam substrate (Ni-Ni 3 S 2 /NiMoO 4 ) as a non-noble metal catalyst electrode for the electrochemical oxidation of glucose in alkaline electrolyte. As an electrochemical sensor for glucose detection, the fabricated hierarchical Ni-Ni 3 S 2 /NiMoO 4 core-shell nanowires display an enhanced catalytic response, a fast response time of 1 s with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.055 μM (S/N = 3), and a higher sensitivity of 10.49 μA μM −1 cm −2 . Unlike Ni 3 S 2 or NiMoO 4 electrodes, the observed superior catalytic activity towards glucose is mainly due to the promotional effect of NiMoO 4 nanosheets on the Ni 3 S 2 nanowires, which can increase the large active surface area and generate numerous active sites within and on the surface walls of the nanowire structures. The developed Ni-Ni 3 S 2 /NiMoO 4 nanowire electrode can selectively detect glucose in the presence of other carbohydrates, such as fructose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, galactose, mannose, and xylose, indicating potential anti-interference properties. The Ni-Ni 3 S 2 /NiMoO 4 nanowire electrode is highly stable for reuse and its practical application is demonstrated using real blood serum samples. These results demonstrate that hierarchical core-shell Ni 3 S 2 /NiMoO 4 nanowires show potential for application in the development of low-cost applied glucose sensors. The electro-oxidation of glucose occurred at the surface of hierarchical core-shell Ni 3 S 2 /NiMoO 4 nanowires.