A hierarchical hollow Ni/Co-functionalized MoS2 architecture with highly sensitive non-enzymatic glucose sensing activity

Abstract

A hierarchical hollow Ni/Co-codoped MoS₂ architecture was successfully prepared using a Ni/Co Prussian Blue analogue as the precursor followed by the solvothermal-assisted insertion of MoS₄²⁻ and extraction of [Co(CN)₆]³⁻ at 200 °C for 32 h. The obtained Ni/Co-codoped MoS₂ composite exhibited a hollow microcubic structural characteristic, and the morphology, structure, and chemical compositions were carefully characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The Ni/Co-codoped MoS₂ composite used as an electrode material featured excellent glucose sensing activity and a high sensitivity of 2546 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻² with a relatively low detection limit of 0.69 μM (S/N = 3). In addition, the Ni/Co-codoped MoS₂ composite showed good anti-interference sensing performance in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA), lysine (Lys), cysteine (Cys), urea, H₂O₂, KCl, and other interferents. These experimental results revealed that the composite is a promising electrode material for enzyme-free glucose sensing, and the feasible synthetic strategy may provide an effective and controlled route to prepare other multi-metal substituted sulfide-based hierarchical structures with high electrochemical sensing performance.