Ultrasensitive non-enzymatic glucose sensing at near-neutral pH values via anodic stripping voltammetry using a glassy carbon electrode modified with Pt3Pd nanoparticles and reduced graphene oxide

We describe an anodic stripping voltammetric (ASV) method for glucose sensing that widely expands the typical amperometric i-t response of glucose sensors. The electrode is based on a working electrode consisting of a glassy carbon electrode modified with Pt-Pd nanoparticles (NPs; in an atomic ratio of 3:1) on a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) support. The material was prepared via the spontaneous redox reaction between rGO, PdCl42− and PtCl42− without any additional reductant or surfactant. Unlike known Pt-based sensors, the use of Pt3Pd NPs results in an ultrasensitive ASV approach for sensing glucose even at near-neutral pH values. If operated at a working voltage as low as 0.06 V (vs. SCE), the modified electrode can detect glucose in the 2 nM to 300 μM concentration range. The lowest detectable concentration is 2 nM which is much lower than the LODs obtained with other amperometric i-t type sensing approaches, most of which have LODs at a μM level. The sensor is not interfered by the presence of 0.1 M of NaCl.