Interface-Programmed Growth of High-Aspect-Ratio 1D Ni–MOF Nanofibers on MXene for Wearable Enzyme-Free Glucose Sensing

Abstract

Abstract Noninvasive wearable glucose sensors capable of real-time sweat analysis offer a less discomforting alternative for long-term monitoring in patients with diabetes. However, practical implementation remains challenging. Major barriers include insufficient catalytic sensitivity to quantify the low glucose levels in sweat, limited compatibility between nanomaterial synthesis and scalable manufacturing processes, and the lack of a biofluid microenvironment suitable for enzyme-free electrochemical sensing. Here, we address these challenges by combining strong interfacial anchoring on a conductive template with surfactant-assisted growth control to engineer high-aspect-ratio (∼100) 1D Ni–TCPP MOF nanofibers as an active shell on MXene–NH2. In contrast to conventional electrospinning-assisted approaches, the resulting 1D MOF shell is polymer-template-free and thus avoids insulating scaffold components. The resulting fluffy, self-supporting Ni-MOF@MXene architecture is inherently compatible with printed electronics, enabling large-area fabrication of wearable enzyme-free glucose-sensing patches. To overcome the constraints of enzyme-free sensing in physiological biofluids, we further develop an integrated system that combines microfluidics with a NaOH/Nafion/PVA alkaline sustained-release membrane, establishing a localized alkaline microenvironment within sweat to enable continuous analysis.