Effects of oxyfluorination on a multi-walled carbon nanotube electrode for a high-performance glucose sensor

A glucose sensor electrode was prepared with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) because of its effect on surface modification through oxyfluorination. The oxyfluorination of MWNTs was carried out with F2:O2 ratios of 7:3, 5:5 and 3:7, which are labeled F7O3-MWNT, F5O5-MWNT, and F3O7-MWNT, based on the oxyfluorination conditions. The hydrophilic functional groups were introduced effectively on the hydrophobic carbon surface. In addition, the amorphous area of the MWNTs was affected by oxyfluorination. The reactivity of the glucose sensor was affected by the oxyfluorination treatment and the existence of amorphous on MWNTs. The optimum O/F percentage was approximately 50%. Therefore, the oxyfluorination conditions are important with amorphous MWNTs. The sensitivity was improved based on the effects of improved interface affinity between the enzyme and the carbon electrode. In addition, the presence of an amorphous area on MWNTs seems to be beneficial for efficient glucose oxidase immobilization, which results in high-performance glucose sensing.