Ultrafast responsive and highly sensitive enzyme-free glucose sensor based on a novel Ni(OH)2@PEDOT-rGO nanocomposite

The novel nanocomposite of Ni(OH) 2 nanoparticles over reduced graphene oxide and poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) hybrid film (Ni(OH) 2 @PEDOT-rGO) have been successfully fabricated via a facile, scalable and easy-to-control electrodeposition method. The characterization results of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electrochemical techniques show that Ni(OH) 2 nanoparticles with an average particle size about 10   nm are uniformly deposited on PEDOT-rGO hybrid film with rough surface and reveal outstanding performance for detecting glucose. The enzyme-free glucose sensor exhibits an ultrafast response time (<   1   s), a wide linear range (0.002–7.1   mM), a low detection limit (0.6   μM) and a high sensitivity (346   μA   mM −1   cm −2 ). Moreover, the sensor also displays superb selectivity, excellent reproducibility and good stability. The outstanding properties of the sensor may be attributed to the synergistic effect of Ni(OH) 2 nanoparticles possessing high electro-catalysis activity and PEDOT-rGO having well conductivity. More importantly, the sensor was successfully used to determine glucose in the real samples. In addition, the mechanism of electrodeposited PEDOT-rGO and glucose oxidase was investigated.