Trimetallic ZIF-Derived Ni–Cu/NC Rhombic Dodecahedron Nanostructures on Butter Sheet Paper as a Flexible Electrochemical Probe for Nonenzymatic Glucose Sensors
M. Pappathi, Ponniah Vajeeston, Antony Samy Sahaya Raja, A. Vignesh, Asad Syed, Ali H. Bahkali, Loorthusamy Cathrine, Jenivia Antoflorin Sekar, Arulraj Roveena, Siew‐Moi Phang, G. Gnana kumar
Abstract
Rhombic dodecahedron-architectured Ni–Cu nanostructures pinned with N-doped carbon (Ni–Cu/NC) are manufactured using Ni–Cu–zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (Ni–Cu–ZIF-8) as soft templates. The as-established ZIF-8 and metal/NC series nanocatalysts are loaded on biodegradable butter sheet papers (BSPs) and used as flexible electrochemical probes for high-performance electrochemical nonenzymatic glucose sensors (ENEGSs). The optimized molecular and electronic structures and charge density distribution of as-formulated ZIF-8 and metal/C series nanostructures are realized with DFT studies, and the influences of aforesaid unique properties on glucose electrooxidation are established with various electrochemical techniques. Owing to the robust carbon network-interlaced metallic units, high electrical conductivity, large surface area, and extended active sites, Ni–Cu–ZIF-8-derived Ni–Cu/NC demonstrates the elevated ENEGS performance including lower detection limit, high sensitivity, and elevated specificity under alkaline regimes that actualize Ni–Cu/NC/BSP’s practical glucose sensing recognition in human serum. Thus, the as-fabricated Ni–Cu/NC/BSP extends exclusive benefits of having simple fabrication and being cost-efficient, reliable, and reusable, along with high glucose sensing performance, accessing innovative conveniences to epitomize technically sound and economically viable boulevards in the amplification of ENEGSs.