Carbon nanotube fiber microelectrodes: design, characterization, and optimization.

We report on the preparation and interesting electrochemical behavior of carbon nanotube fiber microelectrodes (CNTFM). By combining the advantages of carbon nanotubes (CNT) with those of fiber electrodes, this type of microelectrode differs from CNT modified or CNT containing composite electrodes, because it's made of only CNT without any other components like additives or binders. The active CNT surface is easily regenerated. The performance of CNTFMs has been characterized, among others, by surface modification with phosphomolybdic acid. It is shown that adsorption behavior of these catalyst molecules is highly improved with a controlled orientation of CNT. A better CNT alignment inside the fiber can be achieved by a hot stretching procedure.