Facile Preparation of Nickel Nanoparticle-Modified Carbon Nanotubes with Application as a Nonenzymatic Electrochemical Glucose Sensor

A one-step synthesis for the incorporation of nickel nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes is reported using thermal annealing with NiCl2 and melamine. The morphology and structure of the nickel nanoparticle modified carbon nanotubes were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrated that the nickel nanoparticles were on the surface of carbon nanotubes forming a robust structure. The nickel nanoparticle modified carbon nanotubes rapidly oxidized glucose in alkaline solution with an excellent stability. Consequently, the modified carbon nanotubes were shown to be a suitable enzyme-free glucose electrochemical sensor when attached to a glassy carbon electrode, with excellent long term stability, a short response time, a low limit of detection, a long linear dynamic range, high sensitivity, and good precision.