Ni@carbon nanocomposites/macroporous carbon for glucose sensor

A novel Ni@carbon nanocomposites/three-dimensional kenaf stem-derived macroporous carbon (3D-KSCs)-integrated electrode was prepared by calcinating Ni-benzenetricarboxylic acid (Ni-BTC) metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) grown on 3D-KSCs under N 2 atmosphere for electrochemical glucose sensor. Both Ni-BTC MOFs/3D-KSCs and Ni@carbon nanocomposites/3D-KSCs-integrated electrode were studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. These results showed that many flowerlike Ni-BTC MOFs which were composed of sticklike nanostructures were grown on the surface of 3D-KSCs. After calcination under N 2 atmosphere, lots of pearl chain-like nanostructures were formed and uniformly arrayed on 3D-KSC electrode. XRD results confirmed that the Ni-BTC MOFs were successfully transformed into pearl chain-like Ni@carbon nanocomposites. Both electrochemical behaviors and electrocatalytic performances of Ni@carbon nanocomposites/3D-KSCs-integrated electrode were explored. Thanks to its large specific surface area, 3D macropores and special structures, the Ni@carbon nanocomposites/3D-KSCs-integrated electrode showed wide linear range (0.024–1.2 mM) and low detection limit (7.85 μM, S / N  = 3) for glucose sensing. Noteworthily, the MOFs/3D-KSCs might be proposed to prepare other nanocomposites for electrochemical biosensing.