Developments of the Electroactive Materials for Non-Enzymatic Glucose Sensing and Their Mechanisms

Abstract

A comprehensive review of the electroactive materials for non-enzymatic glucose sensing and sensing devices has been performed in this work. A general introduction for glucose sensing, a facile electrochemical technique for glucose detection, and explanations of fundamental mechanisms for the electro-oxidation of glucose via the electrochemical technique are conducted. The glucose sensing materials are classified into five major systems: (1) mono-metallic materials, (2) bi-metallic materials, (3) metallic-oxide compounds, (4) metallic-hydroxide materials, and (5) metal-metal derivatives. The performances of various systems within this decade have been compared and explained in terms of sensitivity, linear regime, the limit of detection (LOD), and detection potentials. Some promising materials and practicable methodologies for the further developments of glucose sensors have been proposed. Firstly, the atomic deposition of alloys is expected to enhance the selectivity, which is considered to be lacking in non-enzymatic glucose sensing. Secondly, by using the modification of the hydrophilicity of the metallic-oxides, a promoted current response from the electro-oxidation of glucose is expected. Lastly, by taking the advantage of the redistribution phenomenon of the oxide particles, the usage of the noble metals is foreseen to be reduced.

Keywords

• chemical sensing
• electroactive materials
• electrochemical technique
• glucose sensors
• metallic nanomaterials
• oxide nanomaterials