High-performance electrochemical detection of glucose in human blood serum using a hierarchical NiO2 nanostructure supported on phosphorus doped graphene

This report describes the development of high-performing non-enzymatic glucose sensors based on a combination of a phosphorous doped graphene (PG) layer and a composite metal oxide. Using a reflux technique and high-temperature annealing, a combined sheet-like NiO2@PG nanocomposite was created. This structure was examined using a variety of physicochemical methods, including thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The NiO2@PG nanocomposite offers a large surface area and an easily penetrable structure, allowing for greater chemical sensitivity to glucose oxidation. The dynamic range of the developed glucose sensor is relatively broad, ranging 10–170 μM. It exhibits a sensitivity of 70.28 μA μM−1 cm−2 , a small limit of detection of 7.83 μM, with a rapid response time of 1.07 s. The sensor also shows outstanding selectivity, long-term stability, reproducibility, and favorable repeatability, and can detect glucose in human serum samples. Additionally, the NiO2@PG composites sensing ability can be enhanced through ligand-to-metal charge-transfer, as validated by density functional theory. Studies on the mechanism of sensing and chemical structure of the composite after stabilization suggest it should prove useful in real-world applications.