Rational design of hierarchical CuO/Cu2O/SnO2 branched supernanowires for highly sensitive non-enzymatic glucose sensors

Abstract

The rational design and synthesis of one-dimensional hierarchical heterojunction materials for high-performance electrocatalytic applications present an enticing prospect in the field of electrochemistry. Herein, barnyardgrass-like CuO/Cu₂O/SnO₂ branched supernanowires were rationally designed and controllably prepared via a synergistic process of co-precipitation and microwave treatment to achieve highly sensitive non-enzymatic glucose sensors. These prepared CuO/Cu₂O/SnO₂ ternary hierarchical heterostructures possessed a specific surface area of 102.92 m² g⁻¹, an abundance of active sites, and a markedly superior propensity for glucose oxidation. Impressively, these prepared barnyardgrass-like CuO/Cu₂O/SnO₂ branched supernanowire glucose sensors demonstrated the desired electrocatalytic properties for glucose with an elevated sensitivity of 2112 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻² and a low detection limit of 33.3 μM. Furthermore, they exhibited good stability, selectivity, reproducibility and a high recovery of 99.7%. These hierarchically structured nanomaterials are promising candidates for high-performance electrochemical applications.