Carbon Nanocomposite Materials for Non-Enzymatic Electrochemical Glucose Sensing

Abstract

Unique and Extraordinary electrical and mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and their composites have stimulated extensive research activities across the world since their discovery by Sumio Iijima in 1991. The range of application of CNTs is indeed wide as it ranges from nano-electronics, with quantum wire interconnects and field emission devices to composites, chemical sensors and biosensors. However, because of low production capacity and high production costs at present, their applications cannot be extended until large-scale production is achieved. In present research work titled “Carbon nanocomposite materials for nonenzymatic electrochemical glucose sensing”, the principal objective is to synthesize bulk scale CNTs and explore the possible application to design efficient, improved and economical non-enzymatic glucose sensor. The work describes eco-friendly synthesis of CNTs and its metal oxide composites (NiO-MWCNT, CuO-MWCNT and Co3O4) using metal formates as an eco-friendly precursor by low temperature thermal reduction method using chemical vapour deposition. The surface and structural morphology were studied by FESEM, TEM, whereas, elemental composition was determined by XRD and Raman spectroscopy. Using these materials the modified glassy carbon electrodes were fabricated to investigate the electro-catalytic properties towards the direct glucose oxidation. The electrochemical properties were characterised by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques in NaOH electrolyte. The sensor parameters like sensitivity, selectivity, stability, reproducibility, response time, limit of detection (LOD) and linear concentration range was investigated for the fabricated electrodes and results obtained were compared with the ones reported in literature. It is notable that the composite materials show significantly enhanced catalytic performance towards direct glucose oxidation due to the synergistic effect of carbon nanomaterials and metal oxide. This composite martials also shows properties like high surface area, fast electron movement, biocompatible and antifouling properties, etc. making these material as promising candidate for the fabrication of non-enzymatic glucose sensors.