A nonenzymatic glucose sensor using nanoporous platinum electrodes prepared by electrochemical alloying/dealloying in a water-insensitive zinc chloride-1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid

We report here a nonenzymatic sensor by using a nanoporous platinum electrode to detect glucose directly. The electrode was fabricated by electrochemical deposition and dissolution of PtZn alloy in zinc chloride-1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (ZnCl₂-EMIC) ionic liquid. Both SEM and electrochemical studies showed the evidences for the nanoporous characteristics of the as-prepared Pt electrodes. Amperometric measurements allow observation of the electrochemical oxidation of glucose at 0.4 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution. The sensor also demonstrates significant reproducibility in glucose detection; the higher the roughness factor of the Pt electrode, the lower the detection limit of glucose. The interfering species such as ascorbic acid and p-acetamidophenol can be avoided by using a Pt electrode with a high roughness factor of 151. Overall, the nanoporous Pt electrode is promising for enzymeless detection of glucose at physiological condition.