Flower-like CuO/NiO nanostructures decorated activated carbon nanofiber membranes for flexible, sensitive, and selective enzyme-free glucose detection

The conversion of insulating polymeric membrane into conducting activated carbon nanofiber (ACF) membrane and the decoration of consequent fibers with flower-like CuO/NiO nanoarchitectures are accomplished, respectively, via the carbonization and electrodeposition processes. The glucose utilization efficacy of CuO/NiO/ACF is accelerated through the diffusion and adsorption of analyte into the nanofibers’ voids and stacked layers, respectively, of ACF and flower-like architectures. The conducting carbon web, binary metal oxide synergism, and porous architecture of CuO/NiO/ACF proliferate the considerable sensitivity (247 µA mM⁻¹ cm⁻²), low sensing limit (146 nM), and wide linear range (0.00025–5 mM) on glucose sensing along with the real sample analysis. The concordant electrochemical glucose oxidation behavior realized at different bending angles exposes the flexibility of CuO/NiO/ACF. Thus, the free-standing, flexible, binder-less, recyclable, and cost-and time-effective features of CuO/NiO/ACF convenience the glucose detection, affording an innovative technological platform for the evolution of high performance and durable glucose sensors.