Carbon nanotube thin film pH electrode for potentiometric enzymatic acetylcholine biosensing

Carboxylated single-walled carbon nanotube thin-film (SWCNT-TF) is demonstrated as a pH electrode and a platform for enzymatic potentiometric acetylcholine biosensors. SWCNT is layer-by-layer assembled with a positively charged polyelectrolyte on the metal electrode. The open circuit potential on SWCNT-TF electrode is measured with reference to an Ag/AgCl electrode in various pH buffers. With the aid of acetylcholinesterase (AchE), acetylcholine (Ach) is successfully detected using the SWCNT-TF pH electrode that demonstrates Nernst potential of −43 mV/pH. AchE-modified electrode has a sensing resolution of 10 μM of Ach and sensitivity of 19 mV/decade. The SWCNT-TF pH electrode fabricated by layer-by-layer self-assembly may play an important role in micro/nanoscale electrochemical sensors.

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