A novel non-enzymatic amperometric glucose sensor based on a hollow Pt–Ni alloy nanotube array electrode with enhanced sensitivity

Abstract

A non-enzymatic electrode is proposed as a glucose sensor based on Pt-replaced Ni nanowires which are prepared by constant current electro-deposition within the anodic alumina membrane and galvanic replacement reaction. The amperometric detection of glucose shows a wide linear range up to 13.5 mM with a high sensitivity of 124.17 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻² and a low detection limit of 32 μM (S/N = 3). More important, another attractive feature of the Pt–Ni NATs electrode is the quite low working potential at −0.35 V (versus SCE), which is favorable to avoid the influence of possible intermediates. Furthermore, the non-enzymatic glucose sensors reveal good stability and repeatability. All these excellent properties of the Pt–Ni NATs electrodes can be attributed to the large active area supported by the unique nanotube array structure.