A nickel–cobalt bimetallic phosphide nanocage as an efficient electrocatalyst for nonenzymatic sensing of glucose

The authors describe Ni–Co bimetal phosphide (NiCoP) nanocages that exhibit enhanced electrocatalytic performance toward glucose oxidation. The nanocages offer an appealing architecture, large specific area, and good accessibility for the analyte glucose. When placed on a glassy carbon electrode, the sensor exhibits attractive figures of merit for sensing glucose in 0.1 M NaOH solution including (a) a wide linear range (0.005–7 mM), (b) a low determination limit (0.36 μM), (c) high sensitivity (6115 μA•μM −1 •cm −2 ), (d) a relatively low working potential (0.50 V vs. Ag/AgCl), and (e) good selectivity, reproducibility, and stability. The sensor is successfully applied to the determination of glucose in human serum samples. Graphical abstract Schematic representation of a glassy carbon electrode modified with Ni–Co bimetal phosphide (NiCoP) nanocage. NiCoP nanocage exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity toward glucose oxidation. NiCoP nanocage is applied in a sensitive non-enzymatic glucose sensor.