Metal–Organic Framework-Derived Nickel/Cobalt-Based Nanohybrids for Sensing Non-Enzymatic Glucose

Abstract

The daily detection of blood glucose levels has become a major concern globally because blood glucose levels are related to human health. Composites comprising non-noble metal nanomaterials and highly conductive carbon materials are active and selective catalysts for glucose detection in non-enzyme sensors, and are therefore particularly attractive. In the present study, we prepared nickel/cobalt (NiCo) alloy nano-particles encapsulated in graphitized carbon by pyrolyzing a bimetallic (Ni and Co) metal organic framework (NiCo-MOF) at 800 °C under a nitrogen atmosphere (denoted NiCo/C). In the linear range 0.5 μM–4.38 mM, a non-enzymatic glucose sensor comprising SPE/NiCo/C (SPE=screen-printed electrode) exhibited a high sensitivity of 265.53 μA mM−1 cm−2, with a low detection limit of 0.2 μM (S/N=3). The NiCo/C sensor had good selectivity for the amperometric detection of glucose. Glucose levels were measured with acceptable reliability and accuracy in human serum samples. The current work offers an alternative tool for diagnosing diabetes and monitoring daily blood glucose levels.