Non-enzymatic low-level glucose detection electrode fabricated via single-step laser-induced forward transfer

Abstract

This study first employed single-step Laser-induced Forward Transfer (LIFT) to transfer copper metal film (1000 nm) onto Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) and Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates separately, fabricating Cu₂O/ITO and Cu₂O/PET electrodes which were then used for non-enzymatic glucose detection. Morphology, surface elemental properties, and structural analysis were conducted using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The Cu₂O/ITO electrode demonstrated outstanding glucose detection performance, with a sensitivity of approximately 1214.33 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻², a Limit of Detection (LOD) of 1.297 μM, and a linear relationship between current and glucose concentration of R² = 0.989. On the other hand, the Cu₂O/PET electrode showed a sensitivity of about 1188.14 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻², an LOD of 1.824 μM, and a linear relationship between current and glucose concentration of R² = 0.997. Both electrodes exhibited remarkable glucose sensing performance. Furthermore, both electrodes demonstrated good selectivity towards glucose in the presence of interfering substances such as Ascorbic acid (AA), Uric acid (UA), Dopamine (DA), and NaCl.