Synthesis of Irregular Cu2O Nanospheres with Remarkable Electrocatalytic Performance for a Nonenzymatic Glucose Sensor

Developing high-performance electrocatalysts is crucial for electrochemical nonenzyme glucose sensing. In this work, irregular cuprous oxide nanospheres with remarkable electrocatalytic performance were synthesized by using a straightforward hydrothermal method. Notably, these irregular nanospheres were assembled from small nanocubes, and their formation was systematically studied with respect to both the time and temperature dependence. The resulting Cu2O samples were evaluated for nonenzymatic glucose detection, demonstrating superior glucose oxidation performance. Among the samples, Cu2O prepared at 170 °C for 2 h exhibited an outstanding sensitivity of 3056 μA·mM–1·cm–2, along with a broad and favorable linear range from 0.05 to 7.15 mM. Furthermore, the sensor showed excellent interference resistance and remarkable long-term stability. These findings underscore the significant potential of the synthesized Cu2O nanospheres as a promising material for practical nonenzymatic glucose sensing.