Electrochemistry of polystyrene intercalated vertically aligned single- and double-walled carbon nanotubes on gold electrodes

Electrochemical electrodes incorporating double- and single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were fabricated on cysteamine modified flat gold substrates. Through covalent coupling of the amine end groups with carboxyl functionalized CNTs, a dense forest of vertically aligned CNTs was produced. To these a 30 nm thick insulating polystyrene layer was spin coated, resulting in exposure of the uppermost carbon nanotube ends. The electrochemical performance of each electrode was then determined using the redox probe ruthenium hexaamine. Once surrounded by polymer, the double-walled CNTs (DWCNTs) showed an improved electron transfer rate, compared to the single-walled electrode. This improvement was attributed to the protection of the electronic properties of the inner wall of the DWCNT during the chemical modification and suggests that DWCNTs may offer a useful alternative to SWCNTs in future electrochemical sensors and biosensors.

► Double and single-walled carbon nanotube (DWCNT and SWCNT) electrodes were made.
► Redox was isolated to CNTs ends by addition of insulating polystyrene.
► A greater rate constant was observed for the DWCNT/polystyrene electrode.
► Outer tube of DWCNT shields inner tube from chemical attack during functionalization.
► DWCNTs may be superior to SWCNTs in sensors and biosensing devices.