Carbon nanotube/poly(methyl methacrylate) (CNT/PMMA) composite electrode fabricated by in situ polymerization for microchip capillary electrophoresis.
We describe the development and application of a novel carbon nanotube/poly(methyl methacrylate) (CNT/PMMA) composite electrode as a sensitive amperometric detector of microchip capillary electrophoresis (CE). The composite electrode was fabricated by the in situ polymerization of a mixture of CNTs and prepolymerized methyl methacrylate in the microchannel of a piece of fused silica capillary under heat. The performance of this unique system was demonstrated by the separation and detection of phenolic pollutants and purines. The new CNT-based CE detector offered significantly lower operating potentials, yielded substantially enhanced signal-to-noise characteristics, and exhibited resistance to surface fouling and, hence, enhanced stability. Long-term stability and reproducibility with relative standard deviations of less than 5 % for the peak current (n=20) were also demonstrated. The simplicity and significant performance exhibited by the CNT/PMMA composite electrode indicate great promise for conventional CE, flowing-injection analysis, and other microfluidic analysis systems.
Yao
Xiao
X
Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Wu
Huixia
H
Wang
Joseph
J
Qu
Song
S
Chen
Gang
G
D004563:Electrochemistry; D004566:Electrodes; D046209:Electrophoresis, Microchip / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D014867:Water; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate