Three-Dimensional Nickel-Nickel Oxide Core-Shell Nanorod Array for Nonenzymatic Glucose Sensing

Abstract

Nickel-nickel oxide core-shell nanorod array electrodes were fabricated and a preliminary application for nonenzymatic glucose determination exhibited excellent performance. The nanorod array electrode was synthesized for the first time by an anodic aluminum oxide template assisted electrochemical deposition technique. Facile oxidation was employed to convert nickel at the outer surface of the nanorods to nickel oxide, resulting in a nickel-nickel oxide core-shell nanorod array. The successful conversion was confirmed by x-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, and scanning electron microscopy. The modified electrode possessed high surface area contributed by the nanorods, and efficient mass transfer due to the wide internanorod gap. The electrode provided high sensitivity (127 microampere square centimeter per millimolar), a low limit of detection (∼0.5 micromolar), and a long linear dynamic range (up to 14 millimolar) for the determination of glucose. Accurate determination of glucose in human serum was performed. This synthetic strategy may have further application for the preparation of high surface area thin-film electrodes for a variety of applications.