Radiolytic Synthesis of Pt-M@MWNT Catalysts (M=Ru, Sn, and Au) for Biosensors

Abstract

Non-enzymatic biosensors employing multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) with highly dispersed Pt-M (M = Ru, Sn, and Au) nanoparticles (Pt-M@MWNT catalysts) were fabricated by radiolytic deposition. The Pt-M nanoparticles on the MWNTs were characterized by transmittance electron microscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction. They were found to be well-dispersed and to exhibit alloy properties on the MWNT support. Electrochemical testing showed that these non-enzymatic biosensors had larger currents (mA) than that of a bare glassy carbon (GC) electrode and one modified with MWNTs. The sensitivity (μA mM-1), linear range (mM), and detection limit (mM) (S/N = 3) of the glucose biosensor with the Pt-Ru, Pt-Sn and Pt-Au catalysts in PBS electrolyte were determined, respectively. The experimental results show that such biosensors can be applied to glucose detection in food chemistry field.