Electorchemical Studies of Cytochrome c on Electodes Modified by Single—Wall Carbon Naotubes

Single-wall carbon nanotubes(SWNTs) modified gold electrodes were prepared by using two different methods.The electrochemical behavior of cytochrome c on the modified gold electrodes was investigated.The first kind of SWNT-modified electrode (noted as SWNT/Au electrode)was prepared by the adsorption of carboxylterminated SWNTs from DMF dispersion on the gold electrode.The oxidatively processed SWNT tips were covalently modified by coupling with amines (AET) to form amide linkage.Via Au-S chemical bonding,the self-assembled monolayer of thiol-unctionalized nanotubes on gold surface was fabricated so as to prepare the others SWNT-modified electrode (noted as SWNT/AET/Au electrode).It was shown from cyclic voltammetry cxperiments that cytochrome c exhibited direct electrochemical responses on the both electrodes, but only the current of controlled diffusion existed on the SWNT/Au electrode while both the currents of controlled diffusion and adsorption of cytochrome c occurred on the SWNT/AET/Au electrode.Photoelastic Modulation Infared Reflection Absorpthion Spectroscopy (PEM-IRRAS) and Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) were employed to verify the adsorption of SWNTs on the gold electrodes.The results proved that SWNTs could enhance the direct electron transfer proecss between the electrodes and redox proteins.     

Optimized carbon nanotube fiber microelectrodes as potential analytical tools

The preparation and interesting electrochemical properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) fiber microelectrodes are reported. By combining the advantages of CNT with those of fiber electrodes, this type of microelectrode differs from CNT-modified or CNT-containing composite electrodes, because they are made solely of CNT without other components, for example additives or binders. The performance of these electrodes has been characterized with regard to, among others, the electrocatalytic oxidation of analytes via dehydrogenase-mediated reactions. In this context the reversible regeneration of the coenzyme NAD(+) using a mediator is a key step in the development of new amperometric sensor devices and we have successfully immobilized mediator molecules that are very efficient for this purpose on the surface of the CNT fiber electrode. The microelectrodes thus obtained have been compared with classic carbon microelectrodes and have promising behavior in biosensing applications, especially after specific pretreatments such as CNT alignment inside the fiber or expansion of the specific surface by chemically induced swelling.     

Functional groups modulate the sensitivity and electron transfer kinetics of neurochemicals at carbon nanotube modified microelectrodes

The surface properties of carbon-based electrodes are critically important for the detection of biomolecules and can modulate electrostatic interactions, adsorption and electrocatalysis. Carbon nanotube (CNT) modified electrodes have previously been shown to have increased oxidative sensitivity and reduced overpotential for catecholamine neurotransmitters, but the effect of surface functionalities on these properties has not been characterized. In this study, we modified carbon-fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs) with three differently functionalized single-wall carbon nanotubes and measured their response to serotonin, dopamine, and ascorbic acid using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry. Both carboxylic acid functionalized and amide functionalized CNTs increased the oxidative current of CFMEs by approximately 2-6 fold for the cationic neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, but octadecylamine functionalized CNTs resulted in no significant signal change. Similarly, electron transfer was faster for both amide and carboxylic acid functionalized CNT modified electrodes but slower for octadecylamine CNT modified electrodes. Oxidation of ascorbic acid was only increased with carboxylic acid functionalized CNTs although all CNT-modified electrodes showed a trend towards increased reversibility for ascorbic acid. Carboxylic acid-CNT modified disk electrodes were then tested for detection of serotonin in the ventral nerve cord of a Drosophila melanogaster larva, and the increase in sensitivity was maintained in biological tissue. The functional groups of CNTs therefore modulate the electrochemical properties, and the increase in sensitivity from CNT modification facilitates measurements in biological samples.     

Evaluation of Meldola Blue‐Carbon Nanotube‐Sol‐Gel Composite for Electrochemical NADH Sensors and Their Application for Lactate Dehydrogenase‐Based Biosensors

A novel MB‐SWNT‐sol‐gel nanocomposite material was prepared by the sol‐gel process incorporating a redox mediator and carbon nanotubes. The electrocatalytic properties of the nanomaterial based sensor toward NADH oxidation were studied by electrochemical measurements. Significant enhancement of oxidation current is obtained at electrodes modified by MB‐SWNT‐sol‐gel in comparison with the analogous carbon black and/or graphite composite modified electrode. The usefulness of the nanocomposite material as a matrix for immobilizing enzymes is also demonstrated. Analytical parameters of D ‐lactate biosensors with and without SWNT in the hybrid film were compared demonstrating that performance of the biosensor was significantly improved when introducing SWNT.     

Achieving Direct Electrical Connection to Glucose Oxidase Using Aligned Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Arrays

Direct electron transfer between an electrode and the redox active centre of glucose oxidase, flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), is probed using carbon nanotube modified gold electrodes. Gold electrodes are first modified with a self‐assembled monolayer of cysteamine and then shortened single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) are aligned normal to the electrode surface by self‐assembly. The electrochemistry of these aligned nanotube electrode arrays is initially investigated using potassium ferricyanide which showed SWNT act as nanoelectrodes with the ends of the tubes more electrochemically active than the walls. Subsequently the nanotubes are plugged into the enzymes in one of two ways. In the first method, native glucose oxidase is covalently attached to the ends of the aligned tubes which allowed close approach to FAD and direct electron transfer to be observed with a rate constant of 0.3 s^?1. In the second strategy, FAD was attached to the ends of the tubes and the enzyme reconstituted around the surface immobilized FAD. This latter approach allowed more efficient electron transfer to the FAD with a rate constant of 9 s^?1.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of some biologically important compounds at conducting polymer electrodes modified by metal complexes

Conducting poly(3-methylthiophene) electrodes were electrochemically prepared. The resulting polymer films were modified with an inorganic complex, ferrocene. The incorporation of the ferrocene/ferrocenium moiety into the polymer film resulted in enhanced charge transfer towards the oxidation of some organic molecules of biological interest. The electrochemical response of the complex-containing polymer electrode was compared to that of the unmodified polymer electrode and that of the substrate. Apparent diffusion coefficients of the redox species were estimated from the cyclic voltammetric data for different biological molecules at the ferrocene-containing polymer electrode. Infra-red spectroscopic measurements for the “as-grown” films revealed the presence of the inorganic complex within the polymer. The modified polymer electrode showed noticeable enhancement for the charge transfer across the film interface and can be used as an electrochemical sensor for biological compounds. Received: 3 June 1997 / Accepted: 7 July 1997     

Demonstration of the advantages of using bamboo-like nanotubes for electrochemical biosensor applications compared with single walled carbon nanotubes

The modification of glassy carbon electrodes with random dispersions of nanotubes is currently the most popular approach to the preparation of carbon nanotube modified electrodes. The performance of glassy carbon electrodes modified with a random dispersion of bamboo type carbon nanotubes was compared with single walled carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrodes and bare glassy carbon electrodes. The electrochemical performance of all three types for electrode were compared by investigating the electrochemistry with solution species and the oxidation of guanine and adenine bases of surface adsorbed DNA. The presence of edge planes of graphene at regular intervals along the walls of the bamboo nanotubes resulted in superior electrochemical performance relative to SWNT modified electrodes from two aspects. Firstly, with solution species the peak separation of the oxidation and reduction waves were smaller indicating more rapid rates of electron transfer. Secondly, a greater number of electroactive sites along the walls of the bamboo-carbon nanotubes (BCNTs) resulted in larger current signals and a broader dynamic range for the oxidation of DNA bases.     

Encapsulation of carbon chain molecules in single-walled carbon nanotubes

The vacuum space inside carbon nanotubes offers interesting possibilities for the inclusion, transportation, and functionalization of foreign molecules. Using first-principles density functional calculations, we show that linear carbon-based chain molecules, namely, polyynes (C(m)H(2), m = 4, 6, 10) and the dehydrogenated forms C(10)H and C(10), as well as hexane (C(6)H(14)), can be spontaneously encapsulated in open-ended single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with edges that have dangling bonds or that are terminated with hydrogen atoms, as if they were drawn into a vacuum cleaner. The energy gains when C(10)H(2), C(10)H, C(10), C(6)H(2), C(4)H(2), and C(6)H(14) are encapsulated inside a (10,0) zigzag-shaped SWNT are 1.48, 2.04, 2.18, 1.05, 0.55, and 1.48 eV, respectively. When these molecules come inside a much wider (10,10) armchair SWNT along the tube axis, they experience neither an energy gain nor an energy barrier. They experience an energy gain when they approach the tube walls inside. Three hexane molecules can be encapsulated parallel to each other (i.e., nested) inside a (10,10) SWNT, and their energy gain is 1.98 eV. Three hexane molecules can exhibit a rotary motion. One reason for the stability of carbon chain molecules inside SWNTs is the large area of weak wave function overlap. Another reason concerns molecular dependence, that is, the quadrupole-quadrupole interaction in the case of the polyynes and electron charge transfer from the SWNT in the case of the dehydrogenated forms. The very flat potential surface inside an SWNT suggests that friction is quite low, and the space inside SWNTs serves as an ideal environment for the molecular transport of carbon chain molecules. The present theoretical results are certainly consistent with recent experimental results. Moreover, the encapsulation of C(10) makes an SWNT a (purely carbon-made) p-type acceptor. Another interesting possibility associated with the present system is the direction-controlled transport of C(10)H inside an SWNT under an external field. Because C(10)H has an electric dipole moment, it is expected to move under a gradient electric field. Finally, we derive the entropies of linear chain molecules inside and outside an open-ended SWNT to discuss the stability of including linear chain molecules inside an SWNT at finite temperatures.     

New Multifunctional Porous Materials Based on Inorganic–Organic Hybrid Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes: Gas Storage and High‐Sensitive Detection of Pesticides

Single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) that are covalently functionalized with benzoic acid (SWNT‐PhCOOH) can be integrated with transition‐metal ions to form 3D porous inorganic–organic hybrid frameworks (SWNT‐Zn). In particular, N₂‐adsorption analysis shows that the BET surface area increases notably from 645.3 to 1209.9 m² g^?1 for SWNTs and SWNT‐Zn, respectively. This remarkable enhancement in the surface area of SWNT‐Zn is presumably due to the microporous motifs from benzoates coordinated to intercalated zinc ions between the functionalized SWNTs; this assignment was also corroborated by NLDFT pore‐size distributions. In addition, the excess‐H₂‐uptake maximum of SWNT‐Zn reaches about 3.1 wt. % (12 bar, 77 K), which is almost three times that of the original SWNTs (1.2 wt. % at 12 bar, 77 K). Owing to its inherent conductivity and pore structure, as well as good dispersibility, SWNT‐Zn is an effective candidate as a sensitive electrochemical stripping voltammetric sensor for organophosphate pesticides (OPs): By using solid‐phase extraction (SPE) with SWNT‐Zn‐modified glassy carbon electrode, the detection limit of methyl parathion (MP) is 2.3 ng mL^?1.     

Real‐Time Nitrophenol Detection Using Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube Based Devices

Single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) based devices have been developed for the real‐time detection of nitrophenols in aqueous solution. SWNTs are assembled to electrodes using AC dielectrophoresis technique. The SWNT devices exhibit not only high sensitivity to nitrophenol compounds, but also good reusability. Charge transfer between nitro group and SWNTs, and the metal‐nanotube interface modification are hypothesized to be the possible origins of conductance change. These results indicated that the SWNT devices can be utilized as a simple, low cost, sensitive, and reusable platform for real‐time detection of nitrophenol compounds.     

Nafion-CNT coated carbon-fiber microelectrodes for enhanced detection of adenosine

Adenosine is a neuromodulator that regulates neurotransmission. Adenosine can be monitored using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry at carbon-fiber microelectrodes and ATP is a possible interferent in vivo because the electroactive moiety, adenine, is the same for both molecules. In this study, we investigated carbon-fiber microelectrodes coated with Nafion and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to enhance the sensitivity of adenosine and decrease interference by ATP. Electrodes coated in 0.05 mg mL(-1) CNTs in Nafion had a 4.2 ± 0.2 fold increase in current for adenosine, twice as large as for Nafion alone. Nafion-CNT electrodes were 6 times more sensitive to adenosine than ATP. The Nafion-CNT coating did not slow the temporal response of the electrode. Comparing different purine bases shows that the presence of an amine group enhances sensitivity and that purines with carbonyl groups, such as guanine and hypoxanthine, do not have as great an enhancement after Nafion-CNT coating. The ribose group provides additional sensitivity enhancement for adenosine over adenine. The Nafion-CNT modified electrodes exhibited significantly more current for adenosine than ATP in brain slices. Therefore, Nafion-CNT modified electrodes are useful for sensitive, selective detection of adenosine in biological samples.     

Application of PEDOT‐CNT Microelectrodes for Neurotransmitter Sensing

In this work, composite microelectrodes from poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) are characterized as electrochemical sensing material for neurotransmitters. Dopamine can be detected using square wave voltammetry at these microelectrodes. The CNTs improve the sensitivity by a factor of two. In addition, the selectivity towards dopamine in the presence of ascorbic acid and uric acid was examined. While both electrodes, PEDOT and PEDOT‐CNT are able to detect all measured concentrations of dopamine in the presence of uric acid, small concentrations of dopamine and ascorbic acid are only distinguishable at PEDOT‐CNT electrodes. Changing the pH has a strong influence on the selectivity. Moreover, it is possible to detect concentrations as low as 1 µM dopamine in complex cell culture medium. Finally, other catecholamines like serotonin, epinephrine, norepinephrine and L ‐dopa are also electrochemically detectable at PEDOT‐CNT microelectrodes.     

Amperometric Biosensors for Glucose Based on Layer‐by‐Layer Assembled Functionalized Carbon Nanotube and Poly (Neutral Red) Multilayer Film

Abstract

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were treated with a mixture of concentrated sulfuric and nitric acid to introduce carboxylic acid groups to the nanotubes. Conducting polymer film was prepared by electrochemical polymerization of neutral red (NR). By using a layer‐by‐layer method, homogeneous and stable MWNTs and poly (neutral red) (PNR) multilayer films were alternately assembled on glassy carbon (GC) electrodes. With the introduction of PNR, the MWNTs/PNR multilayer film system showed synergy between the MWNTs and PNR, with a significant improvement of redox activity due to the excellent electron‐transfer ability of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and PNR. The electropolymerization is advantageous, providing both prolonged long‐term stability and improved catalytic activity of the resulting modified electrodes. The MWNTs/PNR multilayer film modified glassy carbon electrode allows low potential detection of hydrogen peroxide with high sensitivity and fast response time. As compared to MWNTs and PNR‐modified GC electrodes, the magnitude of the amperometric response of the MWNTs/PNR composite‐modified GC electrode is more than three‐fold greater than that of the MWNTs modified GC electrode, and nine‐fold greater than that of the PNR‐modified GC electrode. With the immobilization of glucose oxidase onto the electrode surface using glutaric dialdehyde, a biosensor that responds sensitively to glucose has been constructed. In pH 6.98 phosphate buffer, nearly interference‐free determination of glucose has been realized at ?0.2 V vs. SCE with a linear range from 50 µM to 10 mM and response time <10s. The detection limit was 10 µM glucose (S/N=3).     

Chemical Adsorption onto an ITO Substrate of Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotube Functionalized by Carboxylic Groups as an Efficient Support for Electrocatalyst

A single‐wall carbon nanotube functionalized by carboxylic groups (SWNT‐CA) was found to be adsorbed on an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode by chemical interaction between carboxylic groups and the ITO surface. The adsorption experiments indicated that the narrow pH conditions (around pH 3.0) exist for its adsorption which is restricted by preparation of stable fluid dispersion (favorable at higher pH) and by the chemical interaction (favorable at lower pH). Atomic force microscopic (AFM) measurements suggest that fragmented SWNT‐CA are adsorbed, primarily lying on the surface. Electrochemical impedance analysis indicated that an electrochemical double layer capacitance of the SWNT‐CA/ITO electrode is considerably higher than that for the ITO electrode, suggesting that the interfacial area between the electrode surface and the electrolyte solution is enlarged by the SWNT‐CA layer. Pt particles were deposited as a catalyst on the bare ITO and SWNT‐CA‐coated ITO (SWNT‐CA/ITO) electrodes to give respective Pt‐modified electrodes (denoted as a Pt/ITO electrode and a Pt/SWNT‐CA/ITO electrode, respectively). The cathodic current for the Pt/SWNT‐CA/ITO electrode was 1.7 times higher than that for the Pt/ITO electrode at 0.0 V, showing that the Pt/SWNT‐CA/ITO electrode works more efficiently for O₂ reduction at 0.0 V due to the SWNT‐CA layer. The enhancement by the SWNT‐CA layer is also effective for electrocatalytic proton reduction. It could be ascribable to the enlarged interfacial area between the electrode surface and the electrolyte solution.     

Carbon nanotubes functionalized by NO2: coexistence of charge transfer and radical transfer

The adsorption of NO(2) molecules on a series of zigzag (n,0) single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) (n = 6-12) have been investigated by first-principles methods. The results indicate that the tube diameter and the concentration of NO(2) gas determine the interactions between NO(2) molecules and the tube. The chemisorption of a single NO(2) is only possible for the tube with a small diameter (n < 10), while the second NO(2) molecule can be chemisorbed for all tubes studied here. The additions of more NO(2) molecules in different patterns have also been considered for a (8,0) tube, and the NO(2) groups prefer the pair arrangement with stronger binding energy. According to the results of band structure calculations, overall, the SWNT exhibits a p-type response upon exposure to NO(2) gas and the electron charge transfer is an important reason for explaining the enhancement of conductivity of the tube. Moreover, it is interesting that, accompanied by charge transfer, the chemisorption of NO(2) also leads to the radical transfer from the NO(2) group to the carbon atoms at the ortho and para sites of the six-membered ring. As a result, the SWNT possesses the radical characteristic, which facilitates the further functionalization of the tube wall.     

Detection of dopamine using self-assembled diazoresin/single-walled carbon nanotube modified electrodes

Ultrathin films of diazoresin(DR)/single-walled carbon nanotube(SWNT) were fabricated on thioglycollic acid(TGA) decorated gold(Au) electrodes by the self-assembly method combined with the photocrosslinlcing technique.The electrochemical behavior of dopamine(DA) at the DR/SWNT modified electrodes was studied using the cyclic voltammetry(CV) and differential pulse voltammetry(DPV) methods.Under the optimal conditions,a linear CV response to DA concentration from 1 μmol/L to 40 μmol/L was observed,and the detection limit of DA was 2.1 ×10~(-3) μmol/L via the DPV method in the presence of 10 μmol/L of uric acid(UA) or 2.5 × 10~(-3) μmol/L via the DPV method in the presence of10 μmol/L of ascorbic acid(AA).Moreover,the modified electrodes exhibited good reproducibility and sensitivity,demonstrating its feasibility for analytical purposes.     

Non‐covalent Immobilization of Iron‐triazole (Fe(Htrz)3) Molecular Mediator in Mesoporous Silica Films for the Electrochemical Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide

Mesoporous silica thin films encapsulating a molecular iron‐triazole complex, Fe(Htrz)₃ (Htrz=1,2,4,‐1H‐triazole), have been generated by electrochemically assisted self‐assembly (EASA) on indium‐tin oxide (ITO) electrode. The obtained modified electrodes are characterized by well‐defined voltammetric signals corresponding to the Fe^II/III centers of the Fe(Htrz)₃ species immobilized into the films, indicating fast electron transfer processes and stable operational stability. This is due to the presence of a high density of redox probes in the material (1.6×10^?4 mol g^?1 Fe(Htrz)₃ in the mesoporous silica film) enabling efficient charge transport by electron hopping. The mesoporous films are uniformly deposited over the whole electrode surface and they are characterized by a thickness of 110 nm and a wormlike mesostructure directed by the template role played by Fe(Htrz)₃ species in the EASA process. These species are durably immobilized in the material (they are not removed by solvent extraction). The composite mesoporous material (denoted Fe(Htrz)₃@SiO₂) is then used for the electrocatalytic detection of hydrogen peroxide, which can be performed by amperometry at an applied potential of ?0.4 V versus Ag/AgCl and by flow injection analysis. The organic‐inorganic hybrid film electrode displays good sensitivity for H₂O₂ sensing over a dynamic range from 5 to 300 μM, with a detection limit estimated at 2 μM.     

Miniature organic transistors with carbon nanotubes as quasi-one-dimensional electrodes

As the dimensions of electronic devices approach those of molecules, the size, geometry, and chemical composition of the contact electrodes play increasingly dominant roles in device functions. It is shown here that single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) can be used as quasi-one-dimensional (1D) electrodes to construct organic field effect transistors (FET) with molecular scale width ( approximately 2 nm) and channel length (1-3 nm). An important feature owing to the quasi-1D electrode geometry is the favorable gate electrostatics that allows for efficient switching of ultra-short organic channels. This affords room temperature conductance modulation by orders of magnitude for organic transistors that are only several molecules in length, with switching characteristics superior to similar devices with lithographically patterned metal electrodes. With nanotubes, covalent carbon-carbon bonds could be utilized to form contacts to molecular materials. The unique geometrical, physical, and chemical properties of carbon nanotube electrodes may lead to various interesting molecular devices.     

Investigating the Thermostability of Succinate: Quinone Oxidoreductase Enzymes by Direct Electrochemistry at SWNTs‐Modified Electrodes and FTIR Spectroscopy

Succinate: quinone reductases (SQRs) are the enzymes that couple the oxidation of succinate and the reduction of quinones in the respiratory chain of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Herein, we compare the temperature‐dependent activity and structural stability of two SQRs, the first from the mesophilic bacterium Escherichia coli and the second from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus, using a combined electrochemical and infrared spectroscopy approach. Direct electron transfer was achieved with full membrane protein complexes at single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)‐modified electrodes. The possible structural factors that contribute to the temperature‐dependent activity of the enzymes and, in particular, to the thermostability of the Thermus thermophilus SQR are discussed.     

Optoelectronic and Self‐assembly Properties of Porphyrin Derivatives with Click Chemistry Modification

A series of functionalized porphyrin molecules containing electron‐rich alkynes, synthesized by means of the Sonogashira coupling reaction were further modified by reacting the ethynyl groups with click reagent through a formal [2+2] click reaction. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of the porphyrin derivatives were studied by UV/Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. We show that the optoelectronic properties are affected by the click reagent groups and central metal ions. The functionalized porphyrin molecules show strong charge‐transfer (CT) bands in the visible region (near‐IR region) and potent redox activities. Through a phase‐exchange self‐assembly method, the highly organized morphologies were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The functionalized porphyrin molecules represent an interesting set of candidates for optoelectronic device components. The effect of the metal ions or click reagent groups on the self‐assembly properties were also studied by the UV/Vis spectroscopic titration experiments.