CuO nanoleaf electrode: facile preparation and nonenzymatic sensor applications

We have prepared a CuO nanoleaf electrode by single-step chemical oxidation of a copper foil immersed in alkaline solution. The CuO nanoleaves obtained in this way are perpendicularly orientated towards the copper substrate and are mechanically stable. This results in a high electron transfer rate between CuO and the substrate. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and cyclic voltammetry were employed to characterize the morphology, growth, structure, and electrochemical properties of the CuO nanoleaf electrode. It exhibits excellent nonenzymatic response to H 2 O 2 and glucose in 0.1 mol · L −1 NaOH solution, with a wide linear range, good reproducibility, and detection limits of 10 μmol · L −1 for H 2 O 2 , and 1 μmol · L −1 for glucose. The facile preparation, high electrocatalytic activity and response time of