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We developed glucose biosensing electrodes using single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films on flexible, transparent poly(ethylene terephthalate). The homogeneous SWCNT films were fabricated by a vacuum filtration method, and the averaged resistivity and transparency of the fabricated flexible SWCNT films were 400 Omega sq(-1) and 80%, respectively. The glucose sensing electrodes were constructed by encapsulating glucose oxidase (GOx) by Nafion binder into the SWCNT film, and the variation in current response as a function of enzyme loading amount, Nafion thickness were investigated. 30 mg mL(-1) GOx and 2% Nafion was optimal for the detection of glucose. When ferrocene monocarboxylic acid (FMCA) was introduced as diffusional electron mediator, the current responses toward glucose of the Nafion/GOx/SWCNT electrodes in glucose solution containing FMCA were dramatically improved, and the developed sensor was independent of oxygen. In the application of GOx immobilized SWCNT films for glucose detection, a linear electrical response was observed for concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 3.0 mM, and the detection limit and the sensitivity were assessed to be 97 microM and 9.32 microA mM(-1) cm(-2), respectively. Moreover, according to the Lineweaver-Burk plot, the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant was calculated to be 23.8 mM, and the current responses did not interfere with coexisting electroactive species, indicating that Nafion is an effective permselective polymer barrier., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This paper describes a simple electrochemical sensing platform based on single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) electrodes for glucose detection. The device fabrication using O2-plasma treatment allows precision and uniformity for the construction of three SWCNT electrodes on the flexible plastic substrate. Glucose assay can be simply accomplished by introducing a glucose sample into the fabricated biosensor. The marked electrocatalytic and biocompatible properties of biosensors based on SWCNT electrodes with the incorporation of ferrocenecarboxylic acid and polyethylene glycol enable effective amperometric measurement of glucose at a low oxidation potential (0.3 V) with low interferences from coexisting species. The device shows efficient electroanalytical performances with high sensitivity (5.5 μA·mM−1·cm−2), good reproducibility (CV less than 3%), and long-term stability (over a month). A linear range of response was found from 0 to 10 mM of glucose with a fast response time of 10 s. This attractive electroanalytical device based on GOx/FCA/PEG/SWCNT electrodes offers a promising system to facilitate a new approach for diverse biosensors and electrochemical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel microfluidic pH-sensing chip was developed based on pH-sensitive single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). In this study, the SWCNT thin film acted both as an electrode and a pH-sensitive membrane. The potentiometric pH response was observed by electronic structure changes in the semiconducting SWCNTs in response to the pH level. In a microfluidic chip consisting of a SWCNT pH-sensing working electrode and an Ag/AgCl reference electrode, the calibration plot exhibited promising pH-sensing performance with an ideal Nernstian response of 59.71 mV pH−1 between pH 3 and 11 (standard deviation of the sensitivity is 1.5 mV pH−1, R2 = 0.985). Moreover, the SWCNT electrode in the microfluidic device showed no significant variation at any pH value in the range of the flow rate between 0.1 and 15 μl min−1. The selectivity coefficients of the SWCNT electrode revealed good selectivity against common interfering ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a simple, low cost, electrochemical deposition method to pattern gold nanoparticles on flexible, transparent, single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films, and demonstrate the application of the gold-patterned SWCNT films as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrates and biosensing electrodes for non-enzymatic glucose detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a simple method to fabricate flexible, transparent silver nanowire (AgNW) films. Homogenous AgNW networks were formed on a mixed cellulose ester (MCE) membrane by vacuum filtration and were easily transferable to self-adhesive poly(ethylene terephthalate). The opaque, white MCE membrane became transparent after being subjected to hot acetone vapor. The fabricated AgNW films had an average resistivity of 13 Ω/sq and a transmittance of approximately 67%. Moreover, the AgNW films showed excellent mechanical properties in repeated adhesion tests and bending tests. The AgNW films also showed good resistance against heat and NaCl solutions. AgNW films were patterned by a combination of soft lithography and a solution-based chemical etching technique. The area under the photoresist polymer maintained its conductivity and transmittance after etching, whereas increased resistance and transparency were observed in the etched area. The suitability of the patterned AgNW electrodes for electronic devices was demonstrated via a simple LED chip array. After using standard photolithography to define the working area, AgNW films were used as sensor electrodes for the electrochemical detection of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). The AgNW sensors displayed a reasonable detection limit of 46 μM (S/N = 3), a rapid response time (within 2 s), and high sensitivity (749 μA mM −1 cm −2 and 1640 μA mM −1 cm −2 ). Furthermore, the AgNW sensor was resistant to other potential interfering electroactive species commonly present in physiological samples such as l -ascorbic acid, glucose, and sodium oxalate. These results indicate that the AgNW sensor is selective for electroreduction of H 2 O 2 . Additionally, the developed sensor exhibited a stable amperometric response to the reduction of H 2 O 2 even after extended storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this article, urchin-like palladium (Pd) nanostructures were electrochemically deposited onto pre-patterned single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) thin films. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques were used to characterize the properties of Pd nanostructures on SWCNT thin films. The spherical Pd particles and urchin-like Pd particles were synthesized at −0.5V and +0.1V, respectively. Scanning electron microscope images indicated that the diameters of spherical Pd particles and urchin-like Pd particles were in the range of 50–100nm and 300–400nm, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry was applied to investigate the urchin-like Pd/SWCNT electrode with nitrite oxidation. Results showed that the current response of urchin-like Pd/SWCNT was 1.5 times greater than that of spherical Pd/SWCNT electrodes. The effects of precursor concentration, accumulated charges, pattern size on the morphology of urchin-like Pd structures were also investigated. The urchin-like Pd NPs/SWCNT electrode displayed a suitable detection limit of 0.25μM (S/N =3) under the controlled condition (de-oxygenated buffer solution at pH 4.0) and two linear ranges with respect to nitrite concentration: one from 2μM to 238μM (R 2 =0.995) and the other from 283μM to 1230μM (R 2 =0.998). The corresponding sensitivities were 417μAmM−1 cm−2 and 192μAmM−1 cm−2, respectively. The presence of K+, Na+, Cl−, PO4 3−, NH4 +, CH3COO−, Zn2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cd2+, CO3 2−, NO3 −, and SO4 2− showed a negligible effect on the current response of nitrite determination, suggesting that developed sensors have a suitable degree of tolerance to common ions that can cause interference. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) were grown directly on multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) using a wet chemical reduction process. Gas permeable Pt NP-supported MWNT (Pt/MWNT) electrodes were then formed on microporous PTFE membranes through the vacuum-filtration of a Pt/MWNT solution. The potential use of these electrodes in amperometric hydrogen sensor applications was assessed. Various material analysis methods such as SEM, TEM and XRD were employed in order to characterize the morphologies and microstructures of the Pt/MWNT nanocomposites. The electrodes exhibited a nanoporous interwoven surface morphology as a result of Pt agglomerates attached to the MWNTs. From the XRD and TEM measurements, individual polygonal Pt NPs were confirmed to have polycrystalline face-centered cubic (fcc) structures and very small particle sizes of 2–7nm. The electrode fabrication process was sequentially optimized by adjusting the MWNT content, H2PtCl6 concentration, NaBH4 concentration, and the drying temperature. At optimized conditions, the Pt/MWNT electrode displayed a high sensitivity greater than 200μA/ppm, a fairly good selectivity to interfering CO species, and an excellent linear response over the wide concentration range of 5–1000ppm. Furthermore, the performances of the electrodes were found to be better than those of binary NP-supported MWNT systems (Pt–Pd/MWNT, Pt–Zn/MWNT, Pt–Ni/MWNT and Pt–ZnO/MWNT). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this study, the development of polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel microstructures led to the micropatterning of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films. Polyethylene glycol was patterned in a process analogous to photolithography in order to manufacture high-density arrays of micrometer-scale hydrogel wells on SWCNT film surfaces. These microwells were composed of hydrophobic SWCNT films surrounded by hydrophilic PEG hydrogel walls. Effects of PEG hydrogel microstructures on the micropatterning of SWCNT films were systematically investigated under different substrates prepared with 3-(trichlorosilyl)propyl methacrylate or octadecyltrichlorosilane solution. A characterization of protein adsorption and an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) reaction were performed to evaluate the biocompatible and electrical efficiency of the patterned SWCNT films in various applications. The proteins selectively adhered to the SWCNT surface inside the microwells, while adherent proteins were absent from the hydrogel walls. In the ECL reaction, the SWCNT films patterned with PEG hydrogel exhibited good, stable ECL behavior, a sign that patterned SWCNT films can be used as flexible and transparent electrodes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]