Hierarchically porous NiCo2S4 nanowires anchored on flexible electrospun graphitic nanofiber for high-performance glucose biosensing

Nickel cobalt sulfide (NiCo 2 S 4 ) nanomaterials has attracted much attention in various fields due to its highly catalytic property and low cost. Herein, NiCo 2 S 4 nanowire arrays grown on electrospun graphitic nanofiber film (NiCo 2 S 4 /EGF) is prepared for nonenzymatic glucose sensor. A three-dimensional, self-supporting and porous NiCo 2 S 4 /EGF is synthesized through a two-step hydrothermal process. By rationally controlling the growth kinetics, NiCo 2 S 4 arrays exhibit a unique core-shell structure with rough surface, providing abundant electrochemically active sites exposed to the electrolyte. When applied to glucose determination, NiCo 2 S 4 /EGF modified electrode displays a wide linear range (0.0005–3.571 mM, R 2  = 0.995) and low detection limit (0.167 μM, S/N = 3). The excellent sensing properties of NiCo 2 S 4 /EGF may be attributed to the high electrocatalytic activity of NiCo 2 S 4 and the good electrical conductivity of EGF frameworks. In addition, the as-proposed sensor also displays other outstanding advantages, including simple preparation, low cost, perfect reproducibility and good selectivity. The results suggest that NiCo 2 S 4 /EGF may show great promising in practical applications for glucose detection.