Graphitic carbon nitride/α-Fe2O3 heterostructures for sensitive photoelectrochemical non-enzymatic glucose sensor.

Glucose is one of the major energy sources in organisms, which also is an important biomarker in clinic diabetes diagnosis. Owing to urgent requirements in clinic diabetes diagnosis, developing glucose detection method with accuracy, sensitivity and stability becomes urgently important. A sensitively and stably photoelectrochemical (PEC) non-enzymatic glucose sensor was constructed using the graphitic carbon nitride/α-Fe 2 O 3 (g-CN/α-Fe 2 O 3) heterojunction. The g-CN/α-Fe 2 O 3 heterojunction was synthesized using a facile hydrothermal process in the presence of ionic liquids. The α-Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles anchored to the surface of g-CN, which contributed to forming formation the heterojunction between α-Fe 2 O 3 and g-CN. The heterojunction can accelerate the migration of photogenerated carriers, resulting in enhanced PEC performance. As a result, the g-CN/α-Fe 2 O 3 heterojunction achieved the enhancing photocurrent density compared to α-Fe 2 O 3 alone. In addition, the introduction of glucose can boost electron-hole separation, resulting in sensitive PEC tracing of glucose level in aqueous solution. The sensor can trace the contents of glucose among 0.1 to 11.5 mg L−1 with an acceptable stability. Furthermore, the detection limit of the PEC non-enzymatic glucose sensor is significantly lowered to 0.03 mg L−1. It means the PEC non-enzymatic glucose sensor constructed by the g-CN/α-Fe 2 O 3 heterojunction can be a promising platform to detect glucose. Unlabelled Image • g-CN/α-Fe 2 O 3 heterojunction was successfully prepared via a facile hydrothermal process in the presence of ionic liquids. • g-CN/α-Fe 2 O 3 heterojunction showed enhanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance. • Benefiting from enhanced PEC performance of the heterojunction, a sensitive PEC non-enzymatic glucose sensor was realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]