One Pot Synthesis of Cuprous Oxide Nanoparticles on Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Nonenzymatic Glucose Sensors

In this paper, a nonenzymatic sensor for the detection of glucose was developed on the basis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated by Cu2O nanoparticles (Cu2O@MWNT) as electrocatalysts. The nanocomposites (Cu2O@MWNT) were successfully fabricated by a facile and effective polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)-assisted hydrothermal reduction method. The resulting morphology and microstructure were characterized by TEM, XRD and XPS. The results confirm the high dispersion of Cu2O nanoparticles were successfully anchored on MWNTs. Moreover, Cu2O@MWNT which modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) exhibits better nonenzymatic electrocatalytic responses to glucose in alkaline media. And the resulting sensor displays fast response (within 3s), wide linear range (from 2μM to 1.35 mM), the detection limit is 0.72μM (at signal/noise = 3) and high sensitivity and selectivity. The Cu2O@MWNT nanohybrid films represent promising sensor materials for nonenzymatic glucose sensing in electrochemical analyses and other electrocatalytic applications.