In this work, a 3D ultra-thin NiCo-LDH nanosheet array coated Cu nanoparticles on carbon cloth (NiCo-LDH@Cu NSA/CC) was ultrafast synthesized by plasma magnetron sputtering for the first time. This method has low toxicity and is easy to operate. As a durable and efficient 3D heteronanoarray electrocatalyst for glucose detection, NiCo-LDH@Cu NSA/CC has higher stable conductivity and faster electron transport rate than NiCo-LDH NSA/CC and Cu nanoparticles, which work through synergistic effect to form a high-performance sensing platform. The NiCo-LDH@Cu NSA/CC heteronanosheet structure has good electrocatalytic performance for glucose oxidation, with the sensitivity of the two linear ranges (0.001–1 mmol L −1 and 1–6 mmol L −1 ) being 9710 μA L mmol −1 cm −2 and 4870 μA L mmol −1 cm −2 , respectively, and the detection limit (LOD) is 157 nmol L −1 (S/N = 3). The sensor has been successfully applied to detect glucose in beverages and serum.
The development of an efficient and cost-effective electrocatalyst for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) that can be widely applied in industrial settings poses a multifaceted challenge. This research involved fabricating a NiCo-LDH/Cu electrode as a self-supported catalyst for hydrogen evolution on nickel foam using a solvothermal method and constant potential electrodeposition. In comparison to the NiCu electrocatalyst produced through a single-step electrodeposition, the NiCo-LDH/Cu hydrogen evolution electrode prepared via this combined approach exhibited significant electrocatalytic performance for HER in an alkaline electrolyte. The NiCo-LDH/Cu catalytic electrode requires only an overpotential of 78.0 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA·cm −2 in 1 M KOH. The current density required to catalyze the hydrogenation reaction is reduced by 64 % compared to pure nickel foam. This reduction accelerates the hydrogenation catalytic reaction and enhances electrochemical stability. The remarkable HER efficiency of the NiCo-LDH/Cu catalytic electrode primarily stems from the increased active surface area facilitated by the LDH structure and the synergistic impact generated during the NiCu co-deposition process. This work shows an economical and practical method for developing efficient non-precious metal catalytic electrodes.