Metal-plated 3D-printed electrode for electrochemical detection of carbohydrates

The decentralized fabrication of sensors using 3D-printing technology and low power requirements of electrochemical detection promise to revolutionize point-of-care sensing. One of the obstacles is that the 3D-printed devices are often not catalytic to the target analytes. Here, we develop a non-enzymatic printed nanocarbon electrode sensor to detect sugars (glucose and sucrose) via copper and nickel electroplating over a 3D-printed conducting electrode. The morphological and spectroscopic characterizations of copper-plated and nickel-plated 3D-printed carbon electrodes were performed. Scanning electron micrographs show the formation of metal nanoparticles over the surface of a 3D-printed nanocarbon electrode. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals the composition and chemical states of the metal coating. Electrochemical characterization via cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry was carried out, and glucose and sucrose sensing were performed. This method of on-demand decentralized sensor fabrication and modifications should find broad applications.