Nonenzymatic glucose electrochemical sensor based on Pd–Cu bimetallic aerogels

This study introduces a novel nonenzymatic glucose electrochemical sensor based on palladium-copper bimetallic aerogels (Pd–Cu BMA) synthesized through a facile self-assembly reduction method. The Pd–Cu BMA exhibits a three-dimensional network structure formed by interconnected nanowires, which facilitates rapid electron transfer and offers abundant active sites for catalysis. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of Pd and Cu, the Pd–Cu (2:1) aerogels demonstrates remarkable electrocatalytic activity and stability under neutral conditions. Specifically, this sensor achieves a rapid response to glucose oxidation at an applied potential of 0 V, with a linear detection range up to 20 mM and a limit of detection as low as 43.4 μM. Notably, it maintains high catalytic activity over one month and shows excellent anti-interference performance against common physiological interferents. For practical application, the sensor can accurately detect additional glucose in diluted serum within the concentration range of 1–20 mM and in undiluted serum from 1 to 4 mM, thereby validating its potential for real-time monitoring of glucose levels in physiological samples. This innovative design of Pd–Cu bimetallic aerogels not only enhances the performance of nonenzymatic glucose sensors but also paves the way for the development of advanced materials for point-of-care diagnostics.