NiMoO4 nanoparticles decorated carbon nanofiber membranes for the flexible and high performance glucose sensors

The free-standing and flexible carbonaceous membrane comprising of NiMoO4 nanoparticles decorated carbon fibers is exploited as a binder-free probe for enzymeless glucose sensing analysis. [Display omitted] •NiMoO4 nanoparticles are directly grown on CNFs without the use of a binder.•Ni(III)/Mo(IV) active sites generated under alkaline medium electrooxidize glucose.•NiMoO4/CNF displays identical glucose sensing performances under various angles.•Rapid, sensitive and selective glucose detection is achieved at NiMoO4/CNF.•NiMoO4/CNF demonstrates superior glucose sensing recovery rates in human serum. The free-standing and flexible carbonaceous nanofiber membrane (CNF) comprising of NiMoO4 nanoparticles decorated carbon fibers were developed for glucose sensing analysis. The applicability of polymeric nanofiber membranes in electrochemical sensors is accelerated by enhancing their electrical conductivity via carbonization process. The cavities exist in CNFs accelerate the rapid diffusion of glucose and maximizes the analyte utilization efficiency. The uniform implantation of catalytic active sites of NiMoO4 on CNFs accelerates the glucose sensing kinetics further. With the synergism of bimetal active sites, porous architecture, and conductive carbon network, NiMoO4/CNF demonstrates the excellent sensitivity, low detection limit, and broad linear range, respectively, of 301.77 μA mM−1 cm−2, 50 nM, and 0.0003–4.5 mM toward glucose sensing. Also, the sensing concerts of NiMoO4/CNF are reliable, repeatable, and electrochemically stable along with the high specificity and real sample applicability toward glucose detection. Thus, the free-standing, bendable, binder-free, reusable, and cost-efficient fabrication process developed for the NiMoO4/CNF membrane realizes it’s conscription in the development of cost-efficient and high performance glucose sensors.