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CuO nanoleaf electrode: facile preparation and nonenzymatic sensor applications

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Abstract

We have prepared a CuO nanoleaf electrode by single-step chemical oxidation of a copper foil immersed in alkaline solution. The CuO nanoleaves obtained in this way are perpendicularly orientated towards the copper substrate and are mechanically stable. This results in a high electron transfer rate between CuO and the substrate. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and cyclic voltammetry were employed to characterize the morphology, growth, structure, and electrochemical properties of the CuO nanoleaf electrode. It exhibits excellent nonenzymatic response to H2O2 and glucose in 0.1 mol · L−1 NaOH solution, with a wide linear range, good reproducibility, and detection limits of 10 μmol · L−1 for H2O2, and 1 μmol · L−1 for glucose. The facile preparation, high electrocatalytic activity and response time of <5 s demonstrate the potential applications of the new sensor.

In this manuscript, a facile preparation method of CuO nanoleaves was developed via one-step chemical oxidation of copper foil immersion into alkaline solution for the first time. The prepared CuO illustrated interesting leaf-like morphology. The CuO nanoleaves electrode was applied to the nonenzymatic determination of H2O2 and glucose in NaOH solution. The sensitivity of CuO nanoleaves electrode towards H2O2 and glucose was high with a wide linear range and low limit of detection. Facile preparation, high electrocatalytic activity, short response time and low limit of detection, demonstrate the further potential applications of CuO nanoleaves electrode.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the National High Technology and Development of China (863 Project: 2012AA022604), the National Science Foundation of Fujian Province (No. 2011J05023), the Scientific Research Program of Fujian Medical University (2010BS006), the Medical science and technology projects of Putian City(2009S09-3-3), and the State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of the Solid Surface (Xiamen University).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350004, China

    Shaohuang Weng, Yanjie Zheng, Chengfei Zhao, Liqing Lin & Xinhua Lin

  2. State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of the Solid Surface, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China

    Jianzhang Zhou

  3. Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China

    Jianzhang Zhou

  4. The 476 Hospital of PLA, Fuzhou, 350002, China

    Zongfu Zheng

  5. Fuzong Clinical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, China

    Zongfu Zheng

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  1. Shaohuang Weng
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  2. Yanjie Zheng
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  3. Chengfei Zhao
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  4. Jianzhang Zhou
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  5. Liqing Lin
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  6. Zongfu Zheng
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  7. Xinhua Lin
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Correspondence to Zongfu Zheng or Xinhua Lin.

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Weng, S., Zheng, Y., Zhao, C. et al. CuO nanoleaf electrode: facile preparation and nonenzymatic sensor applications. Microchim Acta 180, 371–378 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-012-0920-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-012-0920-4

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