Surface-modified TiO2 nanotubes with silver for non-enzymatic glucose sensing

: Non-enzymatic glucose sensing has emerged as a promising strategy for reliable, stable detection in biomedical applications. In this work, titanium dioxide nanotubes (TiO 2 NTs) modified with a thin silver (Ag) film were developed to enhance electrochemical glucose sensing performance. TiO 2 NTs were fabricated by electrochemical anodization and then coated with Ag via RF magnetron sputtering, followed by structural, morphological, and optical characterization. Electrochemical measurements showed that Ag incorporation significantly enhances the glucose oxidation response by facilitating charge transfer at the metal-semiconductor interface. The Ag-TiO 2 NTs electrode exhibited a high sensitivity of 288.48 μA·cm -2 ·mM -1 , a low detection limit of 0.03 μM, and a linear range from 0.2 to 2.8 mM, outperforming pristine TiO 2 NTs. Furthermore, the sensor demonstrated good operational stability, excellent reproducibility, and high selectivity in the presence of common interfering species. The low detection limit and suitable working range suggest potential applicability for glucose monitoring in non-invasive biofluids such as sweat and saliva. Overall, this study highlights the critical role of surface modification and interface engineering in improving TiO 2 -based electrochemical sensors, providing a viable platform for non-enzymatic glucose detection.