Zinc ferrite nanoparticles: Simple synthesis via lyophilisation and electrochemical application as glucose biosensor

Abstract

With increasing diabetes patients in the near future, development of non-enzymatic glucose biosensor is highly demanded due to their greater sensitivity and resistance to external stimuli compared to enzymatic biosensors. Zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4, ZFO) nanoparticles (NPs) were fabricated using a simple solution combustion method together with freeze drying. The NPs have high crystallinity, large aspect ratios and narrow size distributions. Plenty of defects have been induced during lyophilisation and greatly improves the glucose biosensing performance during electrochemistry test. The freeze-dried ZFO NPs are highly crystalline and agglomeration-free, these assures the sample with high sensitivity, superior selectivity, low detection limit and outstanding stability for electrochemical glucose biosensing.