Amperometric enzyme electrodes: Part II. Conducting salts as electrode materials for the oxidation of glucose oxidase

Results are reported for the direct oxidation of the enzyme glucose oxidase on 7 different one-dimensional conducting donor acceptor salts. Experiments conducted with the enzyme in bulk solution are shown to be in good agreement with theory. Three salts, made of the cations tetrathiafulvalinium (TTF⁺), N-methylphenazinium or quinolinium with the anion tetracyanoquinodimethanide (TCNQ^?) had the lowest background currents and were used to make membrane sensors for glucose. Analysis of the variation of current with glucose concentration identified the rate limiting processes as transport of gluycose through the membrane and electrochemical kinetics under unsaturated and saturated conditions respectively. The electrochemical rate constants for these three materials were all greater than 10^?2 cm s^?1. TTF⁺TCNQ^? is the material of choice and linear calibration plots were obtained for glucose concentrations between 50 μmol dm^?3 and 10 mmol dm^?3.