A novel biosensor for detecting glucose had been constructed by the immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOD) on chitosan-boron-doped carbon-coated nickel (BCNi) nanoparticle modified electrode. The GOD-chitosan-BCNi bionanocomposite film was characterized with scanning electron microscope (SEM). The film was propitious to the immobilization of GOD and to the retention of its bioactivity. The direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of GOD on modified electrode had been investigated by cyclic voltammogram (CV) and amperometric measurements. The GOD displayed a pair of stable, well-defined and quasi-reversible redox peaks in pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution (PBS). Furthermore, the biosensor was applied to detect glucose with a broad linear range from 2.50 × 10−5 to 1.19 × 10−3 M, the detection limit was brought down to 8.33 × 10−6 M at a signal to noise ratio of 3 and with an applied potential of −0.2 V. The proposed biosensor showed rapid response (within 3 s), low detection limit, high affinity to glucose and accepted storage stability over one-month period, which demonstrated that the chitosan-BCNi film has potential applications in the immobilization of other third-generation enzyme biosensors.

•A novel visible-light-driven Ni@C/CdS nanocomposite is first prepared.•Enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic H2-production efficiency with better durability.•Beneficial for developing efficient and low-cost photocatalysts.Carbon encapsulation strategy of Ni co-catalyst is applied to the fabrication of novel carbon-coated Ni (Ni@C)/CdS nanocomposite photocatalyst with high efficiency and good stability via a facile solvothermal process by using a pre-prepared Ni@C as a starting material. It is found that the metallic Ni nanoparticles encapsulated in the graphite-like carbon shells show a high chemical and thermal stability, and the resultant Ni@C/CdS nanocomposite shows an average photocatalytic H2-production activity of 622.7 μmol h−1 during 5-h visible-light irradiation and an apparent quantum yield up to ca. 20.5% under 420 nm monochromatic light irradiation. The metallic Ni in Ni@C acted as co-catalyst while the graphite-like carbon as CdS nanoparticles’ support and electron acceptor, which resulting in the efficient charge separation, and then the enhanced photoactivity and stability for H2 production as compared to the pristine CdS nanoparticles. The present novel carbon encapsulation strategy of Ni co-catalyst can shed light on the fabrication of new cheap photocatalyst with excellent photoactivity and stability for H2 production.Graphical abstractCarbon encapsulation of Ni co-catalyst is applied to the fabrication of Ni@C/CdS with an apparent quantum yield up to ca. 20.5% under 420 nm light irradiation. Ni in Ni@C acted as co-catalyst while the graphite-like carbon as CdS support and electron acceptor, resulting in the enhanced photoactivity and stability for H2 production.Download high-res image (248KB)Download full-size image