Balasubramanian, K., Burghard, M., Electrochemically functionalized carbon nanotubes for device applications. Journal of Materials Chemistry. 18 (2008) 3071-3083.

Purpose of the study

To examine the many applications of carbon nanotubes and look at how electrochemical functionalization can expand these applications.  Using electrochemistry-based approaches, carbon nanotubes can be functionalized to serve a wide range of applications such as reinforced composites, field-emission displays, scanning probe tips, and molecular-scale electronic devices.

Methods

Several methods used to extend or enhance the applications of nanotubes based on electrochemical functionalization are surveyed in this paper.  Electrochemical functionalization involves the creation of an active species from a precursor in the vicinity of a working electron.  Methods to electrochemically functionalize nanotubes can be broken into covalent functionalization and non-covalent functionalization including electropolymerization, electrodeposition of inorganic compounds, electrodeposition of mixed carbon nanotube-polymer films, and electrophoretic deposition.

Key Points

1.    Electrochemically functionalized carbon nanotubes have a wide range of applications and this paper primarily focuses on their application as a sensing device, specifically biosensing.
2.    Due to their high surface area and chemical stability, carbon nanotubes make very good nanoscale sensors.
3.    The small size of nanotubes makes the ideal for accessing the interior of redox enzymes and other small areas needed in chemical sensing
4.    Several different biosensing methods can be carried out with functionalized nanotubes
a.    Electrochemical sensors
b.    Chemiresistors
c.    Electrochemical field-effect sensors
5.    Possible applications of future development with electrochemically functionalized carbon nanotubes include energy storage such as super-capacitors or rechargeable batteries, advanced membranes, and nanoscale probes for fluid flow