A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Controlled Debundling of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs) by Au@Pt Nanorods Enables Mechanism-Dependent Electrochemical Sensing and Biofouling Response;




AuthorsMostafiz, Bahar; Rosqvist, Emil; Mäkilä, Ermei; Sharma, Vipul; Peltola, Emilia

PublisherAmerican Chemical Society (ACS)

Publication year2026

Journal: Analytical Chemistry

Volume98

Issue29

First page 21292

Last page21308

ISSN0003-2700

eISSN1520-6882

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.6c00924

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Partially Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.6c00924

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/526975638

Self-archived copy's licenceCC BY

Self-archived copy's versionPublisher`s PDF


Abstract

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) form intrinsically bundled networks due to strong intertube interactions, yet conventional debundling approaches can disrupt or chemically alter the nanotube structure. Here, Au@Pt nanorods (NRs) were progressively incorporated into SWCNT films as a nondestructive strategy to deliberately debundle the network while preserving the carbon framework and introducing Pt-rich catalytic sites. This approach was used to examine how network restructuring and metal decoration govern biofouling and electrochemical sensing. Increasing NR loading reorganized the SWCNT network into thinner strands, changed conductive pathways, and increased accessible surface features and hydrophilicity. These changes yielded analyte-dependent electrochemical responses: dopamine (DA) oxidation became more adsorption-controlled after debundling, with enhanced faradaic and capacitive currents attributed to improved interfacial accumulation at carbon-rich surfaces, whereas hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) oxidation was dominated by Pt-mediated catalysis and increased with NR loading due to higher catalytic site density. Biofouling studies with bovine serum albumin (BSA) showed that high NR contents promoted protein adsorption and suppressed electrochemical activity. Interestingly, DA oxidation was least affected on pristine SWCNT electrodes, whereas H2O2 detection benefited from intermediate NR decoration, indicating that biofouling can be mitigated by tailoring the platform to the target analyte to maintain performance after protein exposure, rather than relying on antifouling surfaces.


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Funding information in the publication
This project received funding from the Research Council of Finland under grant numbers 321996 and 352899. B.M. acknowledges funding from UTUGS. E.R. acknowledges funding from the Research Council of Finland under grant
number 370788.


Last updated on 07/08/2026 12:59:45 PM