Electrochemical study of single wall carbon nanotubes/graphene/ferritin composite for biofuel cell applications

A single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs)/graphene/ferritin/GOx layer on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) acting as a biofuel cell anode was fabricated using a SWNTs/graphene/ferritin composite as an electron transfer mediator from the enzyme to the electrode. In the presence of glucose, the SWNTs/graphene/ferritin/GOx composite showed a higher current response than SWNTs/graphene/GOx composite and the electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose on the anode increased linearly with increasing concentration of glucose. The highly distributed SWNTs/graphene/ferritin composite acts as a platform for enzyme immobilization resulted in an enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards glucose. The SWNTs/graphene/ferritin composite showed an enhanced electron transfer from enzyme to the electrode; therefore, SWNTs/graphene/ferritin/GOx composite can be used as an anode in biofuel cells.     

Electrochemical templating of metal nanoparticles and nanowires on single-walled carbon nanotube networks

The use of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) networks as templates for the electrodeposition of metal (Ag and Pt) nanostructures is described. Pristine SWNTs, grown on insulating SiO2 surfaces using catalyzed chemical vapor deposition, served as the working electrode. In the simplest case, electrical contact was made by depositing a gold strip on the SWNT substrate (device 1). Deposition of Ag and Pt over extensive periods (30 s) resulted in a high density of particles on the SWNTs, with almost contiguous nanowire formation from the Au/SWNT boundary moving to isolated nanoparticles at further distances from the contact. For direct electrochemical studies of Ag and Pt nucleation, the assembly was coated in a resist layer and a small window opened up to expose only the electrically connected SWNTs to solution (device 2). In this case, the electrochemical signature in voltammetric and amperometric studies of metal deposition was due solely to processes at the SWNTs. Coupled with high-resolution microscopy measurements (atomic force microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy), this approach provided detail on the nucleation and growth mechanisms of Ag and Pt on SWNTs under electrochemical control. In particular, Ag growth was found to be rapid and progressive with an increasing nanoparticle density with time, whereas Pt deposition was characterized by lower nucleation densities and slower growth rates with a tendency for larger particles to be produced over long times.     

Non-enzymatic Glucose Biosensor Based on Cu/SWNTs Composite Film Fabricated by One-step Electrodeposition

Based on the adsorption of copper ions on single-walled carbon nanotubes(SWNTs) in electrolyte, Cu/SWNTs nanocomposite film was initially prepared on indium-doped tin oxide(ITO) substrate by one-step electrodeposition. This method may provide a versatile and facile pathway to fabricate other SWNTs-supported metal composite films. Electrochemical experiments revealed that the obtained Cu/SWNTs/ITO electrode offered an excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of glucose and could be applied to the construction of non-enzymatic glucose biosensor. The linear range of the sensor was 1.0×10–6 to 6.0×10–4 mol/L and the response time was within 2 s. Particularly, its sensitivity reached as high as 1434.67 μA·L·mmol–1·cm–2, which was superior to any other non-enzymatic glucose biosensor based on copper-carbon nanotubes electrode reported previously.     

Nanostructured biosensors built by layer-by-layer electrostatic assembly of enzyme-coated single-walled carbon nanotubes and redox polymers

In this study, we describe the construction of glucose biosensors based on an electrostatic layer-by-layer (LBL) technique. Gold electrodes were initially functionalized with negatively charged 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid followed by alternate immersion in solutions of a positively charged redox polymer, poly[(vinylpyridine)Os(bipyridyl)2Cl(2+/3+)], and a negatively charged enzyme, glucose oxidase (GOX), or a GOX solution containing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). The LBL assembly of the multilayer films were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, ellipsometry, and cyclic voltammetry, while characterization of the single-walled nanotubes was performed with transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. When the GOX solution contained single-walled carbon nanotubes (GOX-SWNTs), the oxidation peak currents during cyclic voltammetry increased 1.4-4.0 times, as compared to films without SWNTs. Similarly the glucose electro-oxidation current also increased (6-17 times) when SWNTs were present. By varying the number of multilayers, the sensitivity of the sensors could be controlled.     

Functionalization of Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Cubic Prussian Blue and Its Application for Amperometric Sensing

In this work, we synthesized electroactive cubic Prussian blue (PB) modified single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) nanocomposites using the mixture solution of ferric‐(III) chloride and potassium ferricyanide under ambient conditions. The successful fabrication of the PB‐SWNTs nanocomposites was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV‐vis absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry (CV). PB nanocrystallites are observed to be finely attached on the SWNTs sidewalls in which the SWNTs not only act as a carrier of PB nanocrystallites but also as Fe(III)‐reducer. The electrochemical properties of PB‐SWNTs nanocomposites were also investigated. Using the electrodeposition technique, a thin film of PB‐SWNTs/chitosan nanocomposites was prepared onto glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the construction of a H₂O₂ sensor. PB‐SWNTs/chitosan nanocomposites film shows enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of H₂O₂ and the amperometric responses show a linear dependence on the concentration of H₂O₂ in a range of 0.5–27.5 mM and a low detection limit of 10 nM at the signal‐to‐noise ratio of 3. The time required to reach the 95% steady state response was less than 2 s. CV studies demonstrate that the modified electrode has outstanding stability. In addition, a glucose biosensor is further developed through the simple one‐step electrodeposition method. The observed wide concentration range, high stability and high reproducibility of the PB‐SWNTs/chitosan nanocomposites film make them promising for the reliable and durable detection of H₂O₂ and glucose.     

Enzyme–Carbon Nanotube Conjugates in Room-temperature Ionic Liquids

Room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are intriguing solvents, which are recognized as “green” alternatives to volatile organics. Although RTILs are nonvolatile and can dissolve a wide range of charged, polar, and nonpolar organic and inorganic molecules, there remain substantial challenges in their use, not the least of which is the solvents’ high viscosity that leads to potential mass transfer limitations. In the course of this work, we discovered that the simple adsorption of the bacterial protease, proteinase K, onto single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) results in intrinsically high catalytic turnover. The high surface area and the nanoscopic dimensions of SWNTs offered high enzyme loading and low mass transfer resistance. Furthermore, the enzyme–SWNT conjugates displayed enhanced thermal stability in RTILs over the native suspended enzyme counterpart and allowed facile reuse. These enzyme–SWNT conjugates may therefore provide a way to overcome key operational limitations of RTIL systems.     

Sidewall functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes by addition of dichlorocarbene

We report the sidewall functionalization of soluble HiPco single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by addition of dichlorocarbene. The dichlorocarbene-functionalized SWNTs [(s-SWNT)CCl(2)] retain their solubility in organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran and dichlorobenzene. The degree of dichlorocarbene functionalization was varied between 12% and 23% by using different amounts of the dichlorocarbene precursor. Because the addition of dichlorocarbene saturates the carbon atoms on the sidewall of the SWNTs and effectively replaces the delocalized partial double bonds with a cyclopropane functionality, the optical spectra of the SWNTs change dramatically. We estimate that the saturation of 25% of the pi-network electronic structure of the SWNTs is sufficient to remove all vestiges of the interband transitions in the infrared spectrum. The transitions at the Fermi level in the metallic SWNTs that appear in the far-infrared (FIR) region of the spectrum show a dramatic decrease of intensity on dichlorocarbene functionalization. The FIR region of the spectrum allows a clear differentiation between the covalent and the ionic chemistry of SWNTs. In contrast with covalent functionalization, we show that reaction of the SWNTs with bromine vapor leads to a strong increase in absorptions at the Fermi level that is observable in the FIR due to hole doping of the semiconducting SWNTs. Thermal treatment of the (s-SWNT)CCl(2) above 300 degrees C resulted in the breakage of C-Cl bonds, but did not restore the original electronic structure of the SWNTs.     

Amperometric Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide Using Glassy Carbon Electrodes Modified with Chromium Hexacyanoferrate/Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites

Chemical functionalization of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has constructed plenty of new structures with useful properties. But the modification was often confined to organic molecules, either by covalence or noncovalence. In this report, SWNTs were successfully functionalized with one kind of electroactive inorganic compounds: chromium hexacyanoferrate (Cr hcf). The resulting Cr hcf/SWNTs nanocomposites were confirmed by Field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV‐vis absorption spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Cr hcf crystallites are observed to be finely attached to the SWNTs. The electrochemical properties of Cr hcf/SWNTs nanocomposites were also investigated. The nanocomposites modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode shows high electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of H₂O₂ and the amperometric responses show a linear dependence on the concentration of H₂O₂ in a range of 0.5 μM to 10 mM (R=0.9989). In addition, the sensor has good stability and reproducibility.     

Studies of bromine modified single-walled carbon nanotubes using photoelectron spectroscopy and density-functional theory

Many applications based on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) require chemical modification of carbon nanotube to optimize the functionalities of the device. In this contribution we discuss the properties of SWNTs immersed in a hydrobromic acid (HBr) solution. Changes of atomic and electronic structures of bromine modified SWNTs were investigated using photoelectron spectroscopy (PES). Spectra of SWNTs before and after immersion in the HBr solution exhibit different features. To understand the mechanism of interaction between SWNTs and bromine, we performed density-functional theory calculations to reveal the structural changes, adsorption energy and chemical bonding information of SWNTs interacting with bromine. In addition, based on the Gelius model, from the molecular orbitals (MOs), we calculated ultraviolet photoelectron spectra (UPS) of SWNTs with and without functionalizing and compared them with the experiment. The present study is a first step in the understanding of the functionalization mechanism of carbon nanotubes.     

Protein-assisted solubilization of single-walled carbon nanotubes

We report a simple method that uses proteins to solubilize single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in water. Characterization by a variety of complementary techniques including UV-Vis spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy confirmed the dispersion at the individual nanotube level. A variety of proteins differing in size and structure were used to generate individual nanotube solutions by this noncovalent functionalization procedure. Protein-mediated solubilization of nanotubes in water may be important for biomedical applications. This method of solubilization may also find use in approaches for controlling the assembly of nanostructures, and the wide variety of functional groups present on the adsorbed proteins may be used as orthogonal reactive handles for the functionalization of carbon nanotubes.     

Sensitive detection of trifluoperazine using a poly-ABSA/SWNTs film-modified glassy carbon electrode

A poly-ABSA/SWNTs composite-modified electrode was fabricated by electropolymerizing aminobenzene sulphonic acid (ABSA) on the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). SWNTs provide a 3D porous and conductive network for the polymer immobilization. The nanocomposite film was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results indicated that this composite-modified electrode had strong electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of trifluoperazine (TFP). TFP could effectively accumulate on the modified electrode and generate a sensitive anodic peak at 0.72V (versus SCE) in pH 6.1 phosphate buffer solution. Under the selected conditions, the anodic peak current of TFP was linear with its concentration within the range from 1.0x10(-7) to 1.0x10(-5)molL(-1) and 1.0x10(-5) to 1.0x10(-4)molL(-1), and the detection limit was 1.0x10(-9)molL(-1) (S/N=3). This method was successfully applied to the detection of trifluoperazine in drug samples and the recovery was satisfactory. In comparison with the SWNTs/GCE or poly-ABSA/GCE prepared in the similar way, this composite-modified electrode exhibited better catalytic activity.     

Separation of single-walled carbon nanotubes on silica gel. Materials morphology and Raman excitation wavelength affect data interpretation

In this report, procedures are discussed for the enrichment of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) types by simple filtration of the functionalized SWNTs through silica gel. This separation uses nanotube sidewall functionalization employing two different strategies. In the first approach, a crude mixture of metallic and semiconducting SWNTs was heavily functionalized with 4-tert-butylphenyl addends to impart solubility to the entire sample of SWNTs. Two major polarity fractions were rapidly filtered through silica gel, with the solvent being removed in vacuo, heated to 700 degrees C to remove the addends, and analyzed spectroscopically. The second approach uses two different aryldiazonium salts (one with a polar grafting group and one nonpolar), appended selectively onto the different SWNTs by means of titration and monitoring by UV analysis throughout the functionalization process. The different addends accentuate the polarity differences between the band-gap-based types permitting their partial separation on silica gel. Thermal treatment regenerated pristine SWNTs in enriched fractions. The processed samples were analyzed and characterized by Raman spectroscopy. A controlled functionalization method using 4-fluorophenyl and 4-iodophenyl addends was performed, and XPS analyses yielded data on the degree of functionalization needed to affect the van Hove singularities in the UV/vis/NIR spectra. Finally, we demonstrate that relative peak intensity changes in Raman spectra can be caused by morphological changes in SWNT bundling based on differing flocculation or deposition methods. Therefore a misleading impression of separations can result, underscoring the care needed in assessing efficacies in SWNT enrichment and the prerequisite use of multiple excitation wavelengths and similar flocculation or deposition methods in comparative analyses.     

用羟基磷灰石和单壁碳纳米管制备葡萄糖传感器的研究

在滴涂法制得单壁碳纳米管(SWNTs)修饰电极的基础上,采用电化学方法沉积纳米羟基磷灰石(HA)涂层,进而利用分子组装技术将葡萄糖氧化酶(GOD)固定到该电极上,制得的修饰电极的循环伏安测量结果表明,GOD发生了直接的电子传递.GOD-HA-SWNTs/GC修饰电极对不同浓度的葡萄糖呈现两个良好的线性响应范围,有望开发...     

Enhanced sensitivity for biosensors: multiple functions of DNA-wrapped single-walled carbon nanotubes in self-doped polyaniline nanocomposites

A nanocomposite of poly(anilineboronic acid), a self-doped polyaniline, with ss-DNA-wrapped single-walled carbon nanotubes (ss-DNA/SWNTs) was fabricated on a gold electrode by in situ electrochemical polymerization of 3-aminophenylboronic acid monomers in the presence of ssDNA/SWNTs. We used this nanocomposite to detect nanomolar concentrations of dopamine and found that the sensitivity increased 4 orders of magnitude compared to the detection at an electrode modified with only poly(anilineboronic acid). For the first time, this work reports the multiple functions of the ss-DNA/SWNTs in the fabrication and biosensor application of a self-doped polyaniline/ss-DNA/SWNT nanocomposite. First, the ss-DNA/SWNTs acted as effective molecular templates during polymerization of self-doped polyaniline so that not only was the polymerization speed increased but also the quality of the polymer was greatly improved. Second, they functioned as novel active stabilizers after the polymerization, significantly enhancing the stability of the film. Furthermore, the ss-DNA/SWNTs also acted as conductive polyanionic doping agents in the resulting polyaniline film, which showed enhanced conductivity and redox activity. Finally, the large surface area of carbon nanotubes greatly increased the density of the functional groups available for sensitive detection of the target analyte. We envision that polyaniline with other functional groups as well as other conducting polymers may be produced for different targeted applications by this approach.     

Incorporation of single-walled carbon nanotubes into ferrocene-modified linear polyethylenimine redox polymer films

In this study, we describe the effects of incorporating single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) into redox polymer-enzyme hydrogels. The hydrogels were constructed by combining the enzyme glucose oxidase with a redox polymer (Fc-C(6)-LPEI) in which ferrocene was attached to linear poly(ethylenimine) by a six-carbon spacer. Incorporation of SWNTs into these films changed their morphology and resulted in a significant increase in the enzymatic response at saturating glucose concentrations (3 mA/cm(2)) as compared to films without SWNTs (0.6 mA/cm(2)). Likewise, the sensitivity at 5 mM glucose was significantly increased in the presence of SWNTs (74 μA/cm(2)·mM) as compared to control films (26 μA/cm(2)·mM). We demonstrate that the increase in the electrochemical and enzymatic response of these films depends on the amount of SWNTs incorporated and the method of SWNT incorporation. Furthermore, we report that the presence of SWNTs in thick films allows for more of the ferrocene redox centers to become accessible. The high current densities of the hydrogels should allow for the construction of miniature biosensors and enzymatic biofuel cells.     

Sidewall carboxylic acid functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes

The reactions of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with succinic or glutaric acid acyl peroxides in o-dichlorobenzene at 80-90 degrees C resulted in the addition of 2-carboxyethyl or 3-carboxypropyl groups, respectively, to the sidewalls of the SWNT. These acid-functionalized SWNTs were converted to acid chlorides by derivatization with SOCl(2) and then to amides with terminal diamines such as ethylenediamine, 4,4'-methylenebis(cyclohexylamine), and diethyltoluenediamine. The acid-functionalized SWNTs and the amide derivatives were characterized by a set of materials characterization methods including attenuated total reflectance (ATR) FTIR, Raman and solid state (13)C NMR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermal gravimetry-mass spectrometry (TG-MS). The degree of SWNT sidewall functionalization with the acid-terminated groups was estimated as 1 in 24 carbons on the basis of TG-MS data. In comparison with the pristine SWNTs, the acid-functionalized SWNTs show an improved solubility in polar solvents, for example, alcohols and water, which enables their processing for incorporation into polymer composite structures as well as for a variety of biomedical applications.     

Electrochemistry at chemically assembled single-wall carbon nanotube arrays

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) chemically assembled on gold substrates were employed as electrodes to investigate the charge transfer process between SWNTs and the underlying substrates. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) indicates that the assembled SWNTs allow electron communication between a gold electrode and the redox couple in solution, though the SWNTs are linked directly onto the insulating monolayer of 11-amino-n-undecanethiol (AUT) on the Au substrate. An electron transfer (ET) mechanism, which contains an electron tunneling process across the AUT monolayer, is proposed to explain the CV behavior of Au/AUT/SWNT electrodes. Electrochemical measurements show that the apparent electron tunneling resistance, which depends on the surface density of assembled SWNTs, has apparent effects similar to those of solution resistance on CV behavior . The theory of solution resistance is used to describe the apparent tunneling resistance. The experimental results of the dependence of ET parameter psi on the potential scan rate upsilon are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions. Kinetic studies of the chemical assembly of SWNTs by atomic force microscopic (AFM), electrochemical, and Raman spectroscopic methods reveal that two distinct assembly kinetics exist: a relatively fast step that is dominated by the surface reaction, and a successive slow step that is governed by bundle formation.     

Probing the Selectivity of Azomethine Imine Cycloaddition to Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Resonance Raman Spectroscopy

Selective covalent surface modification of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is of great importance to various carbon nanotube‐based applications as it might offer an alternative method for enriching metallic and semiconducting nanotubes. Herein, we report on the surface modification of SWNTs through 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of 3‐phenyl‐phthalazinium‐1‐olate, which is a stable and reactive azomethine imine. For this reaction, microwave heating was found to be more efficient than conventional and solvent‐free heating. The sensitivity of cycloaddition to the molecular structure of SWNTs was probed using resonance Raman spectroscopy with three different laser excitations. Based on the obtained results, azomethine imine addition to the surface of nanotubes is selective for metallic and large‐diameter semiconducting SWNTs. Thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectrometry showed that fragments released at high temperatures corresponded to the phenylphthalazine group, thus confirming the covalent surface functionalization. Modified SWNTs were further characterized by X‐ray photoelectron and UV/Vis‐NIR spectroscopies.     

Rapidly functionalized, water-dispersed carbon nanotubes at high concentration

Microwave-assisted functionalization of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids was carried out to synthesize highly water-dispersible nanotubes. Stable concentrations as high as 10 mg/mL were obtained in deionized water that are nearly 2 orders of magnitude higher than those previously reported. This was after only 3 min of functionalization reaction. Fourier transform infrared spectra showed the presence of carboxylated (-COOH) and acid sulfonated (-SO(2).OH or -SO(3)(-) H(+)) groups on the SWNTs. On the basis of elemental analysis, it was estimated that one out of three carbon atoms was carboxylated, while one out of 10 carbon atoms was sulfonated. The Raman spectra taken both in aqueous dispersion and in the solid phase indicated charge transfer from the SWNT backbone to the functional groups. Scanning electron microscope images of thin films deposited from an aqueous suspension showed that the SWNTs were aligned parallel to one another on the substrate. The images also indicated some reduction in average length of the nanotubes. Transmission electron microscope images of thin films from a dilute methanol dispersion showed that the SWNTs were extensively debundled. Laser light scattering particle size measurements did not show evidence for the existence of particles in the 3-800 nm size range, indicating that the functionalized SWNTs might have dispersed to have formed a true solution. Moreover, the microwave-processed SWNTs were found to contain significantly smaller amounts of the original iron catalyst relative to that present in the starting nanotubes. The electrical conductivity of a thermally annealed thin membrane obtained from the microwave-functionalized SWNTs was found to be the same as that of a similar membrane obtained from a suspension of the starting nanotubes.     

基于单壁碳纳米管-DNA酶复合结构的电化学生物传感器

结合DNA酶优异的氧化还原催化特性和碳纳米管的电化学特性, 制备了单壁碳纳米管-DNA酶复合材料, 并通过壳聚糖将其固定到玻碳电极表面构建了电化学生物传感界面. 研究了单壁碳纳米管-DNA酶复合结构的氧化还原反应催化特性, 并以此为传感平台构建了葡萄糖氧化酶电化学生物传感器. 结果表明, 单壁碳纳米管-DNA酶复合材料修饰的电极对过氧化氢的响应具有较宽的线性范围(5×10^-6~1×10^-2 mol/L)和良好的检测灵敏度(检出限为1×10^-6 mol/L). 采用制备的葡萄糖氧化酶传感器实现了对葡萄糖的快速灵敏检测.