A highly efficient light-driven non-enzymatic glucose sensor based on AuNi nanodendrites

A novel light-driven non-enzymatic glucose sensor based on AuNi nanodendrites has been successfully constructed and applied in glucose detection. The AuNi nanodendrites were fabricated through a one-step underpotential electrodeposition approach, in which porous anodic aluminum was introduced as the template. This nanodendritic structure with a large surface area provides abundant active sites and good electron transfer for the oxidation of glucose. Considering the plasmonic effect of Au, such a hierarchical hybrid structure displayed remarkable photoelectrocatalytic activity for glucose under the visible light illumination. As a result, the light-driven glucose sensor based on AuNi nanodendrites reveals a high sensitivity of ∼183 μA cm−2 mM−1 (0.1–18 mM) and a relative low detection limit (0.01 mM), without applying an external electrical power supply. The current work is promising in the design of novel hybrid materials for glucose sensors under visible light illumination without electrical power consumption.