Construction of a binder-free non-enzymatic glucose sensor based on Cu@Ni core–shell nanoparticles anchored on 3D chiral carbon nanocoils-nickel foam hierarchical scaffold

[Display omitted] •Scalable approach is proposed to construct a multicomponent composite by combining Cu@Ni CSNPs and 3D chiral CNCs/NF hierarchical scaffold.•Self-supported and binder-free synthesis of 3D Cu@Ni CSNPs/CNCs/NF hybrid nanostructure through CVD and solvothermal processes.•Designed NEGS exhibits an ultrafast response (0.1 s) unbeatable sensitivity (6905 μA mM−1 cm−2) and promising LOD of (0.03 μM) .•Bimetallic core–shell synergistic effects enhanced ECSA and accelerated reaction kinetics guaranteed efficient glucose oxidation activity. Bimetallic nanostructures composited with carbonaceous materials are the potential contenders for quantitative glucose measurement owing to their unique nanostructures, high biomimetic activity, synergistic effects, good conductivity and chemical stability. In the present work, chemical vapors deposition technique has been employed to grow 3D carbon nanocoils (CNCs) with a chiral morphology on hierarchical macroporous nickel foam (NF) to get a CNCs/NF scaffold. Following, bimetallic Cu@Ni core–shell nanoparticles (CSNPs) are effectively coupled with this scaffold through a facile solvothermal route in order to fabricate a binder-free novel Cu@Ni CSNPs/CNCs/NF hybrid nanostructure. The constructed free-standing 3D hierarchical composite electrode guarantees highly efficient glucose redox activity due to core–shell synergistic effects, enhanced electrochemical active surface area, excellent electrochemical stability, improved conductivity with better ion diffusivity and accelerated reaction kinetics. Being a non-enzymatic glucose sensor, this electrode achieves highly swift response time of 0.1 s, ultra-high sensitivity of 6905 μA mM−1 cm−2, low limit of detection of 0.03 μM along with potential selectivity and good storage stability. Moreover, the proposed sensor is also tested successfully for the determination of glucose concentration in human serum samples under good recovery ranging from 96.6 to 102.1 %. The 3D Cu@Ni CSNPs/CNCs/NF composite electrode with unprecedented catalytic performance can be utilized as an ideal biomimetic catalyst in the field of non-enzymatic glucose sensing.