A chestnut-like hierarchical architecture of a SWCNT/microsphere composite on an electrode for electroanalysis

Abstract

A new electrochemical interface of a chestnut-like hierarchical microsphere/SWCNT composite array was constructed. The composite was then characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The voltammetric response of SWCNT/microsphere-array electrodes was demonstrated by applying them to the analytical determination of the three different redox couples of the neutral molecule Fc(NH2OH)(2), the multiply charged cation Ru(NH3)(6)(3+), and the multiply charged anion Fe(CN)(6)(3-). The effects of the CNT loading, the sample concentration, the pH, the sweep rates, and the ionic strength on the electrochemical properties of this new generation of hierarchical structure were studied. The stability of this composite in a solution was also investigated. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.