In-situ two-step electrodeposition of α-CD-rGO/Ni-MOF composite film for superior glucose sensing

Accurate and rapid determination of blood glucose levels is essential for real-time monitoring and management of diabetes mellitus, and nanomaterials-based nonenzymatic glucose sensing plays an increasingly significant role in this regard. Here, a simple two-step electrodeposition technique that was efficient, environmentally friendly, easily manipulated, and exceedingly controllable was adopted for the synthesis of metal-organic framework (MOF)/carbon material composites on a titanium mesh (TM), namely α-cyclodextrin functionalized reduced graphene oxide/nickel-based MOF (α-CD-rGO/Ni-MOF/TM), in which Ni-MOF served as the electrocatalyst for glucose oxidation, and rGO greatly enhanced the electrochemical performance of Ni-MOF, benefiting from α-CD effectively preventing aggregation of rGO nanosheets while also improving the stability of the composites, so that these endow the obtained nanomaterials exhibited remarkable electrocatalytic ability for glucose. Consequently, the as-prepared glucose sensor revealed two linear dynamic ranges of 0.65 μM− 4.828 mM with a sensitivity of 1395 μA mM −1 cm −2 and 4.828 − 9.178 mM with a sensitivity of 760 μA mM −1 cm −2 together with a rapid response time of only 1.9 s and a low detection limit of 0.3 μM as well as distinguished reproducibility, selectivity, and stability, further demonstrating the synergistic effects of this composite. The newly manufactured glucose sensing platform was also successfully used to detect glucose in real serum. Considering the convenience and controllability of two-step electrodeposition, the α-CD-rGO/Ni-MOF/TM composite holds great promise for commercial potential, and also provides direction and technical reference for the synthesis of MOF/carbon material composites. The superior electrochemical sensing performance of the α-CD-rGO/Ni-MOF/TM to glucose may be owing to the synergistic effect of Ni-MOF, rGO and α-CD that increases the electrical conductivity and catalytic activity, where Ni-MOF catalyzes the oxidation of glucose, rGO promotes electron transfer by reducing the resistance between nanoparticles, and α-CD prevents the aggregation of rGO nanosheets. • α-CD-rGO/Ni-MOF was firstly prepared with two-step electrodeposition method and used as electrode material for glucose sensor. • The sensor exhibited wide linear range and low detection limit under optimized conditions. • The synergistic effect of composite electrocatalyst in detection of glucose was confirmed. • This simple and controllable strategy provides some guidance for the preparation of other MOF/carbon material composites.