Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of raw carbon nanotubes diameter for the optimization of the load composition ratio in epoxy amperometric composite sensors

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this work, it is reported the necessity to characterize the raw carbon materials before their application in composite electrodes based on multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) dispersed in epoxy resin for the development of improved amperometric sensors. These sensors must contain an optimum MWCNT/epoxy ratio for their best electroanalytical response. The main drawback in MWCNTs composite materials resides in the lack of homogeneity of the different commercial nanotubes largely due to different impurities content, as well as dispersion in their diameter/length ratio and state of aggregation. The optimal composite electrode composition takes into account the high electrode sensitivity, low limit of detection, fast response, and electroanalytical reproducibility. These features depend on carbon nanotube physical properties as the diameter. Three different commercial carbon nanotubes with different diameters were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and the results were significantly different from the ones provided by the manufacturers. Then, the three MWCNTs were used for the MWCNT/epoxy sensors construction. After an accurate electrochemical characterization by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, they were employed as working electrodes using ascorbic acid as a reference analyte. Percolation theory was applied in order to verify the electrochemical results. It is demonstrated that the optimum interval load of raw carbon material in the optimized-composite electrodes closely depends on the MWCNTs diameter, needing 5 % in carbon content for the narrowest MWCNTs containing composite electrodes versus 12 % for the widest MWCNTs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Céspedes F, Martinez-Fàbregas E, Alegret S (1996) New materials for electrochemical sensing I. Rigid conducting composites. Trends Anal Chem 15:296–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Zhao Q, Gan Z, Zhuang Q (2002) Electrochemical sensors based on carbon nanotubes. Electroanalysis 14:1609–1613

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Vashist SK, Zheng D, Al-Rubeaan K, Luong JHT, Sheu F-S (2011) Advances in carbon nanotube based electrochemical sensors for bioanalytical applications. Biotechnol Adv 29:169–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Yang X, Feng B, He XL, Li FP, Ding YL, Fei JJ (2013) Carbon nanomaterial based electrochemical sensors for biogenic amines. Microchim Acta 180:935–956

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Pumera M, Merkoçi A, Alegret S (2006) Carbon nanotube-epoxy composites for electrochemical sensing. Sensors Actuat B: Chem 113:617–622

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Švancara I, Vytřas K, Barek J, Zima J (2001) Carbon paste electrodes in modern electroanalysis. Crit Rev Anal Chem 31:311–345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Zima J, Švancara I, Barek J, Vytřas K (2009) Recent advances in electroanalysis of organic compounds at carbon paste electrodes. Crit Rev Anal Chem 39:204–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Navratil T, Barek J (2009) Analytical applications of composite solid electrodes. Crit Rev Anal Chem 39:131–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Alegret S, Morales A, Céspedes F et al (1996) Hydrogen peroxide amperometric biosensor based on a peroxidase-graphite-epoxy biocomposite. Anal Chim Acta 332:131–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Lermo A, Fabiano S, Hernández S et al (2009) Immunoassay for folic acid detection in vitamin-fortified milk based on electrochemical magneto sensors. Biosens Bioelectron 24:2057–2063

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Orozco J, Fernández-Sánchez C, Mendoza E, Baeza M, Céspedes F, Jiménez-Jorquera C (2008) Composite planar electrode for sensing electrochemical oxygen demand. Anal Chim Acta 607:176–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Wang D, Li Z-C, Chen L (2006) Templated synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotube and metal nanoparticle assemblies in solution. J Am Chem Soc 128:15078–15079

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Gao C, Li W, Morimoto H, Nagaoka Y, Maekawa T (2006) Magnetic carbon nanotubes: synthesis by electrostatic self-assembly approach and application in biomanipulations. J Phys Chem B 110:7213–7220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Balasubramanian K, Burghard M (2005) Chemically functionalized carbon nanotubes. Small 1:180–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Guadagno L, De Vivo B, Di Bartolomeo A et al (2011) Effect of functionalization on the thermo-mechanical and electrical behavior of multi-wall carbon nanotube/epoxy composites. Carbon 49:1919–1930

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Valentini F, Amine A, Orlanducci S, Terranova ML, Palleschi G (2003) Carbon nanotube purification: preparation and characterization of carbon nanotube paste electrodes. Anal Chem 75:5413–5421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Shi J, Wang Z, Li H-l (2007) Electrochemical fabrication of polyaniline/multi-walled carbon nanotube composite films for electrooxidation of methanol. J mater sci 42:539–544

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Solanki PR, Kaushik A, Ansari AA, Tiwari A, Malhotra B (2009) Multi-walled carbon nanotubes/sol-gel-derived silica/chitosan nanobiocomposite for total cholesterol sensor. Sensors Actuat B: Chem 137:727–735

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Noonan M (2005) Glucose biosensor based on carbon nanotube epoxy composites. Nanosci Nanotechnol 5:1694–1698

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Liu M, Wen Y, Xu J et al (2011) An amperometric biosensor based on ascorbate oxidase immobilized in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes composite films for the determination of L-ascorbic acid. Anal Sci 27:477–482

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Liu Y, Su Z, Zhang Y et al (2013) Amperometric determination of ascorbic acid using multiwalled carbon nanotube-thiolated polyaniline composite modified glassy carbon electrode. J Electroanal Chem 709:19–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Olivé-Monllau R, Baeza M, Bartrolí J, Céspedes F (2009) Novel amperometric sensor based on rigidi near-percolation composite. Electroanalysis 21:931–938

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Shobha Jeykumari DR, Ramaprabhu S, Sriman Narayanan S (2007) A thionine functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube modified electrode for the determination of hydrogen peroxide. Carbon 45:1340–1353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Liang M, Jin F, Liu R et al (2013) Enhanced electrochemical detection performance of multiwall carbon nanotubes functionalized by aspartame. J Mater Sci 48:5624–5632

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. McCreery RL (2008) Advanced carbon electrode materials for molecular electrochemistry. Chem Rev 108:2646–2687

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Olivé-Monllau R, Esplandiu MJ, Bartrolí J, Baeza M, Céspedes F (2010) Strategies for the optimization of carbon nanotube/polymer ratio in composite materials: applications as voltammetric sensors. Sensors Actuat B: Chem 146:353–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Arrigan DW (2004) Nanoelectrodes, nanoelectrode arrays and their applications. Analyst 129:1157–1165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Weisshaar DE, Tallman DE (1983) Chronoamperometric response at carbon-based composite electrodes. Anal Chem 55:1146–1151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Castillo FY, Socher R, Krause B et al (2011) Electrical, mechanical, and glass transition behavior of polycarbonate-based nanocomposites with different multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Polymer 52:3835–3845

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Martin C, Sandler J, Shaffer M et al (2004) Formation of percolating networks in multi-wall carbon -nanotube-epoxy composites. Composites Sci Technol 64:2309–2316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Li J, Ma PC, Chow WS, To CK, Tang BZ, Kim JK (2007) Correlations between percolation threshold, dispersion state, and aspect ratio of carbon nanotubes. Adv Funct Mater 17:3207–3215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Jiang M-J, Dang Z-M, Xu H-P, Yao S-H, Bai J (2007) Effect of aspect ratio of multiwall carbon nanotubes on resistance-pressure sensitivity of rubber nanocomposites. Appl Phys Lett 91:072907-1–072907-3

    Google Scholar 

  33. Pegel S, Pötschke P, Petzold G, Alig I, Dudkin SM, Lellinger D (2008) Dispersion, agglomeration, and network formation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in polycarbonate melts. Polymer 49:974–984

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Song W, Windle AH (2005) Isotropic-nematic phase transition of dispersions of multiwall carbon nanotubes. Macromolecules 38:6181–6188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Krause B, Boldt R, Pötschke P (2011) A method for determination of length distributions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes before and after melt processing. Carbon 49:1243–1247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Rosca ID, Hoa SV (2009) Higly conductive multiwall carbon nanotube and epoxy composites produced by three-roll milling. Carbon 47:1958–1968

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Chen Z, Appenzeller J, Knoch J, Lin Y-m, Avouris P (2005) The role of metal-nanotube contact in the performance of carbon nanotube field-effect transistors. Nano Lett 5:1497–1502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Krause B, Villmow T, Boldt R, Mende M, Petzold G, Pötschke P (2011) Influence of dry grinding in a ball mill on the length of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and their dispersion and percolation behaviour in melt mixed polycarbonate composites. Composites Scie Technol 71:1145–1153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Zhao H, O’Hare D (2008) Characterization and Modeling of Conducting Composite Electrodes. J Phys Chem C 112:9351–9357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Carabineiro S, Pereira M, Nunes-Pereira J et al (2012) The effect of nanotube surface oxidation on the electrical properties of multiwall carbon nanotube/poly (vinylidene fluoride) composites. J Mater Sci 47:8103–8111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Cadek M, Coleman J, Ryan K et al (2004) Reinforcement of polymers with carbon nanotubes: the role of nanotube surface area. Nano Lett 4:353–356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Mansfield E, Kar A, Hooker SA (2010) Applications of TGA in quality control of SWCNTs. Anal Bioanal Chem 396:1071–1077

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Pang LS, Saxby JD, Chatfield SP (1993) Thermogravimetric analysis of carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles. J Phys Chem 97:6941–6942

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Bard AJ, Faulkner LR (1980) Electrochemical methods: fundamentals and applications. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  45. Pacios M, Del Valle M, Bartroli J, Esplandiu M (2008) Electrochemical behavior of rigid carbon nanotube composite electrodes. J Electroanal Chem 619:117–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are sincerely grateful to all our associates cited throughout the text for making this publication possible. J. Muñoz thanks Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) for the award of PIF studentship.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Edifici C-Nord, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès (Bellaterra), 08193, Barcelona, Spain

    J. Muñoz, J. Bartrolí, F. Céspedes & M. Baeza

Authors
  1. J. Muñoz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Bartrolí
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. F. Céspedes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Baeza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Baeza.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Muñoz, J., Bartrolí, J., Céspedes, F. et al. Influence of raw carbon nanotubes diameter for the optimization of the load composition ratio in epoxy amperometric composite sensors. J Mater Sci 50, 652–661 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-014-8624-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-014-8624-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation