Synergistic Effect of Au And Cu Co-Deposition on SPGE for Non-Enzymatic Glucose Detection

Abstract

The development of non-enzymatic glucose sensors is essential for achieving high stability, cost-effectiveness, and long-term reliability. This study presents a Au-Cu electrode fabricated by direct co-electrodeposition on a screen-printed graphite electrode (SPGE) for glucose detection. The electrochemical performance of Cu, Au, and Au-Cu electrodes was evaluated, revealing that Cu alone exhibited negligible current, while Au generated 0.8 A, confirming its glucose detection capability. Notably, the Au-Cu co-deposited electrode showed the highest current response
(1.6 A), surpassing both Cu and Au, highlighting a synergistic enhancement in glucose sensing performance. The improved sensitivity of the Au-Cu electrode is attributed to the synergistic effect between Cu and Au, enhancing electron transfer and catalytic activity. While previous studies have focused on Cu and Au individually, the co-electrodeposition method for glucose sensing remains unexplored. This work further investigates the sensor’s response to five different glucose concentrations (55 nM, 110 nM, 165 nM, 220 nM, 275 nM), demonstrating a clear correlation between glucose levels and current response.

The simple, scalable, and cost-effective fabrication method used in this study offers a promising alternative for high-sensitivity glucose sensors. With enhanced electrochemical response and practicality, the Au-Cu/SPGE electrode has significant potential for non-enzymatic glucose sensing in biomedical diagnostics and point-of-care monitoring.