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Non-enzymatic biosensors employing multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) with highly dispersed Pt-M (M = Ru, Sn, and Au) nanoparticles (Pt-M@MWNT catalysts) were fabricated by radiolytic deposition. The Pt-M nanoparticles on the MWNTs were characterized by transmittance electron microscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction. They were found to be well-dispersed and to exhibit alloy properties on the MWNT support. Electrochemical testing showed that these non-enzymatic biosensors had larger currents (mA) than that of a bare glassy carbon (GC) electrode and one modified with MWNTs. The sensitivity (μA mM-1), linear range (mM), and detection limit (mM) (S/N = 3) of the glucose biosensor with the Pt-Ru, Pt-Sn and Pt-Au catalysts in PBS electrolyte were determined, respectively. The experimental results show that such biosensors can be applied to glucose detection in food chemistry field.

An ECL sensor was fabricated by immobilization of a tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium (II) complex (Ru(bpy)3(2+)) to an amine group-modified GC electrode (NH2-GC electrode). Here, the NH2-GC electrode was prepared by electrochemical reduction of a nitro group-modified GC electrode in 0.1 M KCl ethanol solution under H2 gas, which was followed by electrochemical grafting of 4-nitrophenyl diazonium salts in 0.1 M NBu4BF4 acetonitrile solution onto the GC electrode. The prepared ECL sensor was successfully confirmed via cyclic voltammetry, contact angle, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), and ECL spectrometry. The contact angle for the surface of the GC electrode, NO2-GC electrode, and NH2-GC electrod was 88.4 degrees, 67.4 degrees, and 52.4 degrees, respectively. The stability of the ECL sensor was investigated under continuous cyclic potential scanning for 55 cycles and the ECL intensity remained at 55%. The prepared ECL electrode can be expected to immobilize enzymes for preparation of the ECL biosensor to detect target molecules.

A multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) support with dual properties, an ionic property via tetra-amine and unpaired electrons via tri-amine, was prepared by radiation-induced graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and the subsequent amination of its epoxy group. The electrochemical microbial biosensor (EMB) was then fabricated by immobilization of a microbe (Alkaligenes spp.) onto the dual property-modified electrode, which was prepared with the mixture of the MWNT support and a solution on a glass carbon (GC) electrode surface by a hand-casting method. The sensing range of the prepared EMB for phenol in a phosphate buffer solution was 0.005~7.0 mM. The total concentration of phenolic compounds in a commercial red wine was also determined using the EMB.

This paper describes the electrocatalytic activity for CO, MeOH, and EtOH oxidation on the surface of Pt-Ru nanoparticles supported by metal oxide (Nb-TiO2-H) prepared for use in a fuel cell. To prepare Nb-TiO2-supported Pt-Ru nanoparticles, first, the Nb-TiO2supports were prepared by sol-gel reaction of titanium tetraisopropoxide with a small amount of the niobium ethoxide in polystyrene (PS) colloids. Second, Pt-Ru nanoparticles were then deposited by chemical reduction of the Pt4+and Ru3+ions onto Nb-TiO2supports (Pt-Ru@Nb-TiO2-CS). Nb element was used to reduce electrical resistance to facilitate electron transport during the electrochemical reactions on a fuel cell electrode. Finally, the Pt-Ru@Nb-TiO2-H catalysts were formed by the removal of core-polystyrene ball from Pt-Ru@TiO2-CS at500∘C. The successfully prepared Pt-Ru electrocatalysts were confirmed via TEM, XPS, and ICP analysis. The electrocatalytic efficiency of Pt-Ru nanoparticles was evaluated via CO, MeOH, and EtOH oxidation for use in a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). As a result, the Pt-Ru@Nb-TiO2-H electrodes showed high electrocatalytic activity for the electrooxidation of CO, MeOH, and EtOH.