Electrochemical fabrication of Ni nanoparticles-decorated electrochemically reduced graphene oxide composite electrode for non-enzymatic glucose detection

Abstract Nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs)-decorated electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) nanocomposite (NiNPs/ERGO) was fabricated on an indium-tin-oxide electrode using a facile one-pot electrochemical approach for highly sensitive detection of glucose. The composition, crystallinity, and morphology of the nanocomposite were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The as-prepared NiNPs/ERGO electrodes were also used for the amperometric determination of glucose in alkaline media, exhibiting non-enzymatic glucose biosensor behavior [linear range of 0.5–244 µM, detection limit of 40 nM signal-to-noise ratio=3]. The NiNPs/ERGO nanocomposites for glucose biosensor applications exhibited high electrocatalytic performance compared to bare NiNPs and bare ERGO structures. Furthermore, the fabricated non-enzymatic glucose sensors possessed excellent selectivity in the presence of ascorbic acid due to the synergistic effect of NiNPs and ERGO. These results indicate that the NiNPs/ERGO nanocomposite is a potential sensor for the voltammetric and amperometric detection of glucose.