PdCuPt Nanocrystals with Multibranches for Enzyme-Free Glucose Detection

By carefully controlling the synthesis condition, branched PtCu bimetallic templates were synthesized in aqueous solution. After the galvanic replacement reaction between PtCu templates and the Pt precursors, PdCuPt trimetallic nanocrystals with branched structures were obtained. Owing to the open structure and the optimized composition, the electrochemical experimental results reveal that the PdCuPt trimetallic nanocrystals possess high electrocatalytic activity, selectivity and stability for the oxidation of glucose in alkaline solution. In detail, a detection limit of 1.29 μM and a sensitivity of 378 μA/mM/cm(2) are achieved. The good electrocatalytic performance should be attributed to the unique branched nanostructure as well as the synergistic effect among metals. The superior catalytic properties suggest that these nanocrystals are promising for enzyme-free detection of glucose.