Green synthesis of Au@WSe2 hybrid nanostructures with the enhanced peroxidase-like activity for sensitive colorimetric detection of glucose

We report a colorimetric method for glucose detection based on Au nanoparticle-decorated WSe2 (Au@WSe2) hybrid nanostructures. These hybrid structures are easily synthesized by simply stirring HAuCl4 precursor with WSe2 nanosheets in aqueous solution. Owing to strong synergistic catalytic effects of Au nanoparticles and WSe2 nanosheets, the Au@WSe2 hybrid nanostructures exhibit enhanced peroxidase-like activity (about 2-fold higher compared to WSe2 nanosheets alone) for 3,3’,5,5’-tetramethylbenzidine oxidation by H2O2. Based on the highly catalytical property, the colorimetric method for glucose detection is established by coupling glucose oxidase (GOx). The detection limit of glucose is 3.66 µM. Moreover, the proposed colorimetric method is applicable to glucose detection in serum samples and is promising for applications in biomedical fields.