Electrodeposited trimetallic amorphous nanocomposite-based electrode for efficient water oxidation and electrochemical sensing of glucose and ascorbic acid

This study reports the synthesis of trimetallic oxide film on nickel foam (CoxNiyCuzO@NF) through a fast electrodeposition method and utilizing it to improve the effectiveness of electrochemical methods for environmental restoration and electrochemical sensors. To exhibit the functionality of trimetallic oxide catalyst, efficient and fast electrochemical oxidation of water, glucose and ascorbic acid is shown. The mechanism of efficient catalysis is associated with the synergistic effect of ternary Co-Ni-Cu oxide and amorphous morphology bearing rich defects, dangling bonds and structural flexibility. It is demonstrated that water oxidation can be carried out with a low Tafel slope of ∼64mV/dec and a low overpotential of ∼272mV at a current density of 10 mA cm$^{−2}$. The sensitive amperometric detection of the model analytes, i.e., glucose with limit of detection (LOD) of 0.20μM (100–900μM and 1–11mM; 1800μA mM$^{−1}$ cm$^{−2}$) and ascorbic acid with 0.10μM (100μM - 13mM; 600μA mM$^{−1}$ cm$^{−2}$) in basic pH is presented. The electrode showed quick response time of 2s and 5s for electrochemical oxidation of glucose and ascorbic acid, respectively and a remarkable reproducibility with relative standard deviation (RSD) value of 2.84%. ... mehrThese compelling characteristics highlight its possible use in electrocatalytic water oxidation and electrochemical biosensors.