Flexible Non-Enzymatic Glucose Sensors: One-Step Green Synthesis of NiO Nanoporous Films via an Electro-Exploding Wire Technique

In this study, we successfully synthesized nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles (NPs), i.e., samples NiO 24V, NiO 36V, and NiO 48V, via an environmentally friendly one-step electro-exploding wire technique by employing three distinct voltage levels of 24, 36, and 48 V, respectively. Sample NiO 48V showed the most rugged surface and smallest particle size, which helped to enhance electrocatalytic properties. The highest Ni³⁺ content of sample NiO 48V contributed to the increasing redox current and rendering highly enhanced chemical reactions and thereby improving their electrochemical properties and electrocatalytic performance in the glucose oxidation processes in alkaline (0.1 M NaOH, pH = 13) media. The NiO 48V electrode showcased an excellent linear detection range spanning from 0.1 to 1 mM, featuring a remarkable sensitivity of 1202 μA mM^-1 cm^-2 and an exceptionally low limit of detection (LOD) value of 0.25 μM. Remarkably, NiO NPs exhibited exceptional long-term stability, commendable reproducibility, favorable repeatability, and outstanding selectivity. This study also highlights the excellent operational performance of the NiO 48V electrode in real-world samples, such as commercially available beverages and human urine, highlighting the practical nature of these nonenzymatic sensors in real-life scenarios for the food industries, clinical diagnostics, and biotechnology applications.