We demonstrate silver (Ag) nanoparticle decorated polyaniline (PANI) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as Ag–PANI/rGO nanocomposites to realize non-enzymatic glucose sensors. The Ag–PANI/rGO nanocomposite was synthesized by a simple electrochemical method at room temperature. The proposed Ag–PANI/rGO nanocomposite exhibited excellent electrochemical characteristics and sensing performance for use in electrochemical glucose sensors, as compared to bare PANI and PANI/rGO. We also investigate the underlying mechanisms for the nanocomposite formation of Ag, PANI and rGO by using various characterization techniques. The interactions between Ag species with N atoms of the PANI backbone boost the electron transfer rate during the electrochemical reduction of glucose. The calibration plot for the electrochemical response of Ag–PANI/rGO towards glucose was recorded for the range of 50 μM to 0.1 μM (R² = 0.99) with a detection limit of 0.79 μM and a rapid response time of a few seconds. These results indicate the significant potential of Ag–PANI/rGO nanocomposites as non-enzymatic glucose sensors. We also demonstrate the feasibility of using Ag–PANI/rGO nanocomposites for the detection of glucose in real samples such as as-supplied organic fluids (orange juice, apple juice, mango juice, coke and milk). The amperometry technique was used to verify that a significant increase of the current response occurred along with a sensitive increase in the glucose concentration. We believe that this work can introduce an emerging concept of nanocomposites to realize simple and reliable electrochemical glucose sensor platforms.

We demonstrate high performance gas sensors based on functionalized single-wall carbon nanotube random networks for the detection of nitric oxide down to the ppb-level.