Nanostructured NiCu LDHs/polypyrrole nanotubes composite for nonenzymatic glucose sensing in human serum

Nanostructured NiCu layered double hydroxides (NiCu LDHs) are synthesized in situ on polypyrrole nanotubes through convenient co-precipitation and hydrothermal synthesis. The nanostructured composite (NiCu LDHs/PPy) shows high electrocatalytic activities towards the glucose oxidation reaction in alkaline electrolyte so that a nonenzymatic glucose sensor is developed. It is demonstrated that the sensor offers a wide linear range from 1.5 μM to 1.0 mM with a high sensitivity of 525.8 μA mM −1 cm −2 and a low limit of detection of 66 nM (S/N = 3). The nonenzymatic sensor has been successfully applied to real blood samples for glucose monitoring with high accuracy.