Electrochemical functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes with amine-terminated dendrimers encapsulating Pt nanoparticles: Toward facile field-effect transistor-based sensing platforms

We present a method for functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with amine-terminated dendrimers encapsulating catalytic nanoparticles, and demonstrate the feasibility of functionalized CNTs as efficient field-effect transistor (FET)-sensing platforms. As a model system, we synthesized Pt dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles (DENs) using amine-terminated sixth-generation poly(amidoamine) dendrimers, and functionalized CNT-based FET channels with Pt DENs via electro-oxidative grafting of the terminal amines of dendrimers onto the surface of CNTs. We also demonstrated spatially-controlled surface functionalization of CNTs and subsequent modification of the functionalized CNT-based FET channels with glutamate oxidases for efficient FET-based sensing of glutamates. Our approach could facilitate the functionalization of CNTs with a variety of catalytic nanoparticles and biologically active materials, enabling the development of sensitive and selective FET-based sensor devices.