Synthesis of Irregular Cu2O Nanospheres with Remarkable Electrocatalytic Performance for a Nonenzymatic Glucose Sensor

Abstract

Developing high-performance electrocatalysts is crucial for electrochemical nonenzyme glucose sensing. In this work, irregular cuprous oxide nanospheres with remarkable electrocatalytic performance were synthesized by using a straightforward hydrothermal method. Notably, these irregular nanospheres were assembled from small nanocubes, and their formation was systematically studied with respect to both the time and temperature dependence. The resulting Cu₂O samples were evaluated for nonenzymatic glucose detection, demonstrating superior glucose oxidation performance. Among the samples, Cu₂O prepared at 170 °C for 2 h exhibited an outstanding sensitivity of 3056 μA·mM^–1·cm^–2, along with a broad and favorable linear range from 0.05 to 7.15 mM. Furthermore, the sensor showed excellent interference resistance and remarkable long-term stability. These findings underscore the significant potential of the synthesized Cu₂O nanospheres as a promising material for practical nonenzymatic glucose sensing.