Laser-Induced Graphene Decorated with MOF-Derived NiCo-LDH for Highly Sensitive Non-Enzymatic Glucose Sensor

Designing and fabricating a highly sensitive non-enzymatic glucose sensor is crucial for the early detection and management of diabetes. Meanwhile, the development of innovative electrode substrates has become a key focus for addressing the growing demand for constructing flexible sensors. Here, a simple one-step laser engraving method is applied for preparing laser-induced graphene (LIG) on polyimide (PI) film, which serves as the sensor substrate. NiCo-layered double hydroxides (NiCo-LDH) are synthesized on LIG as a precursor, utilizing the zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67), and then reacted with Ni(NO3)2 via solvent-thermal methods. The sensitivity of the non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensor is significantly improved by employing NiCo-LDH/LIG as the sensing material. The porous and interconnected structure of NiCo-LDH, derived from ZIF-67, enhances the accessibility of electrochemically active sites, while the incorporation of LIG ensures exceptional conductivity. The combination of NiCo-LDH with LIG enables efficient electron transport, leading to an increased electrochemically active surface area and enhanced catalytic efficiency. The fabricated electrode achieves a low glucose detection limit of 0.437 μM and demonstrates a high sensitivity of 1141.2 and 631.1 μA mM−2 cm−2 within the linear ranges of 0–770 μM and 770–1970 μM, respectively. Furthermore, the NiCo-LDH/LIG glucose sensor demonstrates superior reliability and little impact from other substances. A flexible integrated LIG-based non-enzymatic glucose sensor has been developed, demonstrating high sensitivity and suggesting a promising application for LIG-based chemical sensors.