Issue 24, 2015

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes noncovalently functionalized by electro-active amphiphilic copolymer micelles for selective dopamine detection

Abstract

We have synthesized an electro-active amphiphilic copolymer with carbazole side chains via free radical polymerization using 7-(4-vinylbenzyloxy)-4-methyl coumarin and 9-(4-vinylbenzyl)-9H-carbazole as the monomers. The copolymer can self-assemble to form micelles (termed EACMs) in aqueous solution and can adsorb onto the surfaces of MWCNTs via π–π interactions and thereby cause the efficient dispersion of the MWCNTs in aqueous solution. The coumarin groups in the copolymer undergo UV-induced photo-crosslinking, which further improves the stability of the suspension. Moreover, the electro-active carbazole moieties in the EACMs can undergo electropolymerization to form a conducting network on the MWCNTs that significantly accelerates electron transfer. The EACM/MWCNTs hybrid was applied to the amperometric sensing of dopamine (DA) as a model analyte. After electropolymerization, the electrode exhibited good sensitivity and selectivity toward the determination of dopamine with a 0.2 μM detection limit and a wide linear range. The method described here provides a viable route to water-dispersible and stable carbon nanotubes while preserving their outstanding electrical properties. We presume that the composite described here represents a valuable tool for the construction of electrochemical sensors and electronics.

Graphical abstract: Multiwalled carbon nanotubes noncovalently functionalized by electro-active amphiphilic copolymer micelles for selective dopamine detection

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
23 Dec 2014
Accepted
02 Feb 2015
First published
02 Feb 2015

RSC Adv., 2015,5, 18233-18241

Author version available

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes noncovalently functionalized by electro-active amphiphilic copolymer micelles for selective dopamine detection

X. Fei, J. Luo, R. Liu, J. Liu, X. Liu and M. Chen, RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 18233 DOI: 10.1039/C4RA16923A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements