Surface engineering of nickel selenide nanosheets array on nickel foam: An integrated anode for glucose sensing

Abstract Nickel selenides (Ni 3 Se 2 ), which boast a narrow band gap and high conductivity, have gained widespread attention for their potential use in water electrolysis sytems and dye-sensitized solar cells. We report herein the in situ fabrication of nickel selenide nanosheet arrays on nickel (Ni) foam (Ni 3 Se 2 NS/NF) and their use in an integrated, non-enzymatic glucose sensor. Ni 3 Se 2 NS/NF anodes exhibited a high rate of electrocatalytic glucose oxidation, attaining a sensitivity of 5962 μA mM −1  cm −2 , a linear range from 0.25 μM to 6.335 mM, a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.04 μM, and good selectivity. The excellent sensing properties of these anodes are attributed to their high catalytic activity and conductivity, afforded by synergistic interations between Ni 3 Se 2 and Ni, and the large surface area and easy access to electrolytes provided by the open-shelled nanoarray configuration and 3D Ni foam skeleton.