Copper bismuth oxide (CBO), modified with cobalt as dopant has been prepared by coprecipitation and the electrode was prepared by doctor blade method. The cobalt doped copper bismuth oxide (Co-CBO) has been extensively used for selective glucose sensing and photoelectrochemical activity. Physical characterizations like X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy are studied to confirm the formation of desired electrode. Linear sweep voltammetry, chronoamperometric and impedance studies explain about the electrocatalytic nature of cobalt doped CBO. Oxidation peak for glucose was observed for CBO at 0.54 V while for Co-CBO it occurred at 0.46 V. The reduction in potential is explained through synergistic catalytic enhancement due to cobalt doping. Further, Co-CBO was used for photoelectrochemical application, the electrode has shown current density of −0.80 mA cm−2 while that for CBO is −0.20 mA cm−2. Therefore, CBO has formed a desirable phase with cobalt which resulted in the enhancement of electrocatalytic performance. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.