A simple route for preparation of highly stable CuO nanoparticles for nonenzymatic glucose detection

Highly stable CuO nanoparticles about 2–4 nm in diameter have been successfully prepared by heating aqueous Cu(OAc)2 and urea solution in the presence of poly[(2-ethyldimethylammonioethyl methacrylate ethyl sulfate)-co-(1-vinylpyrrolidone)] (PQ11). Direct placing of the resultant dispersion on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) without the use of an immobilization support matrix leads to very stable CuO nanoparticle-containing films with remarkable catalytic performance toward the oxidation of glucose. This sensor shows good response to glucose in comparison to other normally co-existing electroactive species (such as dopamine, ascorbic acid and uric acid). The linear detection range is estimated to be from 5 μM to 2.3 mM (r = 0.994), and the detection limit is estimated to be 0.5 μM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. More importantly, it suggests that this glucose sensor can be used for the glucose detection in human blood serum.