Application of multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with hemin for oxygen detection in neutral solution

Functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) is of paramount importance for developing new sensors. In this study, a hemin-modified MWNT electrode was successfully constructed. Upon saturation, the amount of adsorbed hemin is estimated as 2.7 × 10−9 mol cm−2, which is 39 times larger than the value of the hemin monolayer. The electrochemical behavior of the hemin-modified MWNT electrode has been characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The electron-transfer coefficient (α) is found to be 0.38 with a heterogeneous electron transfer rate (k) of 2.9 s−1 for the adsorbed hemin. Both MWNT and hemin-modified MWNT electrodes show ideal reversibility in 5 mM K3[Fe(CN)6] in the range of 0.02–1.00 V s−1, indicating fast electron-transfer kinetics. CV of the hemin-modified MWNT electrode in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution (PBS) clearly shows the dioxygen reduction peaks close to 0 V (vs. Ag|AgCl). These results are useful in the development of a novel oxygen sensor for working at a relatively low potential.