Département de chimie moléculaire

We report a simple, versatile, and rapid method for the fabrication of optically-transparent large-area carbon nanotube (CNT) films via flotation assembly. After solvent-induced assembly, floating films were transferred to a flat supporting substrate to form conductive and transparent CNT film electrodes. The resulting electrodes, with uniform 40 ± 20 nm multi-walled CNT (MWCNT) layers, were characterized by electrochem. and microscopy methods. The flotation method does not require specialized thin-film instrumentation and avoids the need for surfactants and pre-oxidized CNTs which can hamper electrochem. performance. A proof-of-concept nanostructured bioelectrode demonstrating high sensitivity for glucose was developed with an electropolymd. poly(pyrene-adamantane) layer for host-guest immobilization of active $\beta$-cyclodextrin tagged GOx enzymes. The polymer provides pyrene groups for crosslinking to CNTs and pendant adamantane groups for binding the $\beta$-cyclodextrin groups of the tagged enzyme. This demonstration offers a new approach for the prepn. of stable and transparent CNT film electrodes with attractive electrochem. properties towards future photobio- and bio-electrochem. fuel cells, electrochem. sensors, and electroanal. [on SciFinder(R)]