A highly sensitive non-enzymatic glucose sensor based on coral-like Cu/nickel foam bimetallic structure

This study presents a highly sensitive and cost-effective non-enzymatic glucose sensor based on coral-like Cu/nickel foam bimetallic electrodes. Nickel foam was utilized as a substrate for electrochemical deposition of Cu nanoparticles. Comprehensive analyses using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the formation of coral-like Cu/nickel foam bimetallic structure, significantly enhancing the active sites for glucose oxidation. Electrochemical characterization shows that the electrode has excellent sensitivity for glucose detection. The detection sensitivity of cyclic voltammetry (CV) for 10–100 μM glucose can reach 16,826 μA cm −2 mM −1 , and the detection sensitivity of chronoamperometry (CA) for 0–100 μM glucose is 14,828 μA cm −2 mM −1 . The detection limit is as low as 0.04 μM. The sensor exhibited outstanding selectivity against common interfering substances and maintained high stability in artificial sweat for over a week. Considering the typical glucose levels in human sweat (∼50 μM), this sensor holds significant potential for non-invasive blood glucose monitoring applications.