Novel Composite of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Gold Nanoparticles Stabilized by Chitosan and Hydrophilic Ionic Liquid for Direct Electron Transfer of Glucose Oxidase

A novel composite was fabricated through dispersing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) in gold nanoparticle (GPs) colloid stabilized by chitosan and ionic liquid (i.e., 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, BMIMBF₄). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiment showed that the GPs highly dispersed on the MWNTs probably due to the electrostatic interaction among GPs, MWNTs and the imidazolium cation of BMIMBF₄. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated that thus‐formed gold nanostructure was mediated by BMIMBF₄. When glucose oxidase (GOD) was immobilized on the composite (MWNTs‐GPs) its ultraviolet‐visible absorption spectrum kept almost unchanged. The immobilized GOD coated glassy carbon electrode (GOD/MWNTs‐GPs/GC) exhibited a pair of well‐defined peaks in 0.10 M pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution (PBS), with a formal potential of ?0.463 V (vs. SCE). The electrochemical process involved two‐electron transfer. The electron transfer coefficient was ca.0.56 and the electron transfer rate constant was 9.36 s^?1. Furthermore, the immobilized GOD presented good catalytic activity to the oxidation of glucose in air‐saturated PBS. The K_m and I_m values were estimated to be 13.7 μM and 0.619 μA. The GOD/MWNTs‐GPs/GC electrode displayed good stability and reproducibility.