Fabrication and biosensing with CNT/aligned mesostructured silica core-shell nanowires

Abstract

We report the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/mesostructured silica core-shell nanowires via an interfacial surfactant templating approach. The nanowires possess perpendicularly aligned and uniform accessible mesopores, high surface area and large pore volume. When dimethyl sulfoxide reductase (DMSOR) enzyme is immobilized on the core-shell nanowires, the complex can enhance the electrical communication between the active sites of the enzyme and the electrode surface in the presence of a mediator. The unique properties of the CNTs and the uniform accessible mesopores of the nanowires have made this material promising in the applications as carbon nanotubes field-effect transistors, electrochemical detection, and biosensors.