Platinum nanoparticles with a diameter of 2-3 nm were prepared and used in combination with single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) for fabricating electrochemical sensors with remarkably improved sensitivity toward hydrogen peroxide. Nafion, a perfluorosulfonated polymer, was used to solubilize SWCNTs and also displayed strong interactions with Pt nanoparticles to form a network that connected Pt nanoparticles to the electrode surface. TEM and AFM micrographs illustrated the deposition of Pt nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes whereas cyclic voltammetry confirmed an electrical contact through SWCNTs between Pt nanoparticles and the glassy carbon (GC) or carbon fiber backing. With glucose oxidase (GOx) as an enzyme model, we constructed a GC or carbon fiber microelectrode-based biosensor that responds even more sensitively to glucose than the GC/GOx electrode modified by Pt nanoparticles or CNTs alone. The response time and detection limit (S/N = 3) of this biosensor was determined to be 3 s and 0.5 microM, respectively.

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High quality cellulose nanocrystals are synthesized using a simple one‐step procedure with ammonium persulfate. This versatile method processes a variety of cellulosic biomass without the need for pretreatments to remove non‐ cellulosic plant contents.

A Li/CO 2 -O 2 (2 : 1, volume ratio) battery and a Li/CO 2 battery with discharging specific capacities of 1808 mA h g À1 and 1032 mA h g À1 , respectively, are reported. Li 2 CO 3 is the main discharge product in the Li/CO 2 -O 2 (2 : 1) battery and can be decomposed during charging. In the Li/CO 2 battery, the main discharge products could be Li 2 CO 3 and carbon. Both batteries can be cycled reversibly at room temperature. Experimental sectionHigh pure anhydrous LiCF 3 SO 3 ($99.995%, Sigma Aldrich Co.) was used as received. TEGDME ($99%, Sigma Aldrich Co.) was purchased and dehydrated with 0.3 nm molecular sieves (Metrohm Ltd., Switzerland). Then, LiCF 3 SO 3 was dissolved in TEGDME in a molar ratio of 1 : 4 to form the electrolyte. The cathode composition was Ketjen Black (KB) and PTFE