Development of non-precious metal oxide-based electrodes for enzyme-free glucose detection: A review

[Display omitted] •Various generations of glucose sensors have been introduced.•The enzyme-free glucose sensors based on metal oxides have been studied.•Various strategies for improving glucose sensing performance of metal oxides have been discussed.•Future perspectives on metal oxides for glucose detection have been presented. The progress of accurate and economical sensors for glucose determination is vital for the detection and treatment of diabetes. Even though electrochemical enzyme-based sensors have been widely utilized in the medical field for glucose determination, high preparation costs, and poor durability have led to the introduction of a novel type of enzyme-free sensor for glucose recognition. Non-precious metal oxides have been comprehensively explored for the preparation of affordable sensors for non-enzymatic, high-performance glucose detection. This review commences by clarifying the mechanistic aspects of electrochemical sensors for enzyme-free glucose detection, followed by advanced studies on metal oxides with different strategies, including morphology engineering, supported carbon materials, and noble metal doping for efficient glucose detection. Finally, formidable obstacles and future development of non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensing are also discussed.