Recent advancements, key challenges and solutions in non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensors based on graphene platforms

Abstract

The increasing demand for the development of highly sensitive, selective and precise non-enzymatic electrochemical sensors (NEGS) for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of glucose in clinical, pharmaceutical and industrial sectors has garnered attention worldwide. The electroactive materials are catalytically oxidized glucose molecules that generate signals for glucose quantification; graphene and its derivatives are highly useful as active conductive supports for high-performance NEGS. Since the discovery of graphene in 2004, the astonishing properties of graphene-based platforms have resulted in its extensive applications in NEGS. Although a number of research efforts have involved the development of NEGS with graphene and its composites, a comprehensive study of NEGS using graphene and its composites has yet to be envisioned; this has not only obscured their widespread application but has also diminished future improvements in NEGS. Hence, this review article is presented to visualize the significant requirements of NEGS catalysts, the influences of graphene in achieving the requirements of NEGS catalysts and the progress made on graphene platform-equipped NEGS, along with a detailed discussion of recent studies and the involved electrochemical mechanisms. Building on the above perspectives, the fine tuning of the sensitivities and detection limits of graphene-based platforms in the fabrication of NEGS have also been detailed. Furthermore, this article clearly outlines future directions by detailing the obstacles currently facing graphene-equipped NEGS; as such, this review article can be considered to be a useful guide in the design and development of next-generation NEGS.