Rectangular flake-like mesoporous NiCo2O4 as enzyme mimic for glucose biosensing and biofuel cell

The rectangular flake-like mesoporous NiCo 2 O 4 (meso-NiCo 2 O 4 ) catalysts were first used in glucose bio-sensing and glucose biofuel cell (GBFC) as an enzyme mimic simultaneously. The meso-NiCo 2 O 4 displayed excellent catalytic capability to glucose including a super-fast response time (within 1 s), a super-high sensitivity (662.31 μA (mmol L −1 ) −1 cm −2 ), and a super-low detection limit (0.3 nmol L −1 at S/N = 3) on the sensor. On the other hand, meso-NiCo 2 O 4 provided great values in GBFC as anode material with an open circuit voltage of 0.63 V, a maximum power density of 0.092 mW cm −2 , and a limiting current density of 1.3 mA cm −2 , respectively. The preeminent catalytic abilities may be attributed to the large specific surface area resulting from the mesoporous structure and the surpassing intrinsic catalytic activity of NiCo 2 O 4 itself. These significant findings may promote the development of the supersensitive detection of glucose and will undoubtedly widen the catalytic materials for biofuel cell electrodes.