Controlled Assembly of Ag Nanoparticles and Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Structures for Biosensing

Abstract

Here we report a chemical-free, simple, and novel method in which a part from a silver-based anode is controllably used in a straightforward manner to produce silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in order to fabricate a controlled assembly of Ag NPs and single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) hybrid structures. The attachment and distribution of Ag NPs along SWCNTs have been investigated and characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). We have achieved the decoration of SWCNTs with different densities of Ag NPs by changing the deposition time, the applied voltage, and the location of carbon nanotubes with respect to the anode. At low voltage, single silver nanoparticle is successfully attached at the open ends of SWCNTs whereas at high voltage, intermediate and full coverage densities of Ag NPs are observed. As voltage is further increased, fractals of Ag NPs along SWCNTs are observed. In addition, a device based on a Ag NPs-SWNT hybrid structure is used for the label-free detection of ssDNA molecules immobilized on it. We believe that the proposed method can be used to decorate and/or assemble metal nanoparticles or fractal patterns along SWCNTs with different novel metals such as gold, silver, and copper and can be exploited in various sensitive applications for fundamental research and nanotechnology.

Synthesis of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube−Nanoparticle Hybrid Structures

“…The decoration of SWNTs with different densities of Ag nanoparticles by changing the deposition time, the applied voltage and the location of carbon nanotubes with respect to the anode in a chemical and catalyst free environment was also reported (27). Figure 4 shows the schematic of the experimental setup and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) micrographs of the nanocrystal-nanotube hybrids.…”

Rapid hydrogenation: perfect quasi architecture (Ag@SiO2NPs) as a substrate for nitrophenol reduction

“…4 Among various types of metal NPs, silver NPs (AgNPs) are recognised as interesting for the creation of novel functional materials owing to their unique optical, 5 electronic, 6 antibacterial 7 and catalytic features. 8 This provides the opportunity to develop prompt AgNPs for special applications in various elds including biosensing, 9 photonics, 10 electronics, 6 and antimicrobial activity. 11 Apart from that, AgNPs have been found to play an important role in several catalytic processes due to their distinct features like unique transition between the molecular and metallic states, 12 and short range ordering with increased number of kinks, corners and edges.…”

Improving the Electrical Contact Property of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Arrays by Electrodeposition

“…Actually, most reported work about electrodepositing metals on SWNTs result in metal nanoparticles or nanowires on the SWNT surface, especially for metallic single-walled Advanced Manufacturing Division, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China *Corresponding author. E-mail: zhang.min@sz.tsinghua.edu.cn carbon nanotubes (mSWNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes [11,12].…”