Investigation on electrochemical properties of chromium oxide nanoparticles for non-enzymatic glucose sensing application

This article focused on development of an innovative glucose sensing platform utilizing Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles, presenting promising sensing parameters for non-enzymatic glucose detection. The synthesis of Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles is executed by a facile hydrothermal approach and their glucose sensing performance is investigated intensively. The Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles are characterized by spectroscopic tools such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis spectroscopy, field effect scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and tunneling electron microscopy (TEM) for morphological and crystallographic analysis. The Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles possess a high active surface area, which holds many electrocatalytic and biocatalytic centers to promote electronic/ionic transport in the electrode, leading to the improvement of glucose sensing performance. Electrochemical sensing parameters of the synthesized nanoparticles are evaluated using 0.1 M NaOH as an electrolytic solution. The sensitivity of Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles for electrochemical glucose sensing is calculated to be 9.35 × 10 −4 μA μM −1 cm −2 in the linear range of 330–1560 μM and 4.69 × 10 −4 μA μM −1 cm −2 in the linear range of 1560–3610 μM having response time of 9 s and detection limit of 80 μM. The prepared nanoparticles also exhibit excellent selectivity, stability and reproducibility towards glucose biomolecules. a) IT curve and (b) calibration curve of Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles for the linear range of 330–1560 μM, (c) IT curve and (d) calibration curve of Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles for the linear range of 1560 –3610 μM. Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles have been synthesized by a facile, low-temperature and cost-effective hydrothermal method and their morphological and structural characteristics are confirmed using spectroscopy tools. The nanoparticles are homogeneous, having a size of 30–40 nm and are agglomerated themselves to produce bigger nanoparticles. The glucose sensing activity of the Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles towards glucose analyte was investigated using electrochemical techniques. The Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles possess huge electro-active centers on their surface, which are responsible for the electro-catalytic performance of the nanomaterial. The Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticle electrode material exhibited sensitivity of 9.35 × 10 −4 μA μM −1 cm −2 in the linear range of 330–1560 μM and 4.69 × 10 −4 μA μM −1 cm −2 in the linear range of 1560 –3610 μM having response time of 9 s and detection limit of 80 μM towards glucose molecules. Hence, Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles prepared by the economical hydrothermal method are very helpful for the development of glucose sensors and is a proper nanomaterial for industrial applications. • Facile and low cost hydrothermal synthesis of Chromium Oxide nanomaterials. • The size of the nanoparticles are in the 30–40 nm range. • The Non-enzymatic glucose sensing properties of the synthesized Cr 2 O 3 nanomaterial is studied. • The electrochemical and bio-catalytic activity towards glucose analytes are examined more extensively which show sensitivity of about 9.35 × 10 −4 μA μM −1 cm −2 in the linear range of 330–1560 μM and 4.69 × 10 −4 μA μM −1 cm −2 in the linear range of 1560–3610 μM having response time of 9 s and detection limit of 80 μM.