Defect sites modulate fouling resistance on carbon-nanotube fiber electrodes.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) fiber electrodes have become increasingly popular electrode materials for neurotransmitter detection with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV). The unique properties of CNT fiber electrodes like increased electron transfer, sensitivity, waveform application frequency independence, and resistance to fouling make them ideal biological sensors for FSCV. In particular, their resistance to fouling has been observed for several years but the specific physical properties which aid in fouling resistance has been debated. Here, we investigate the extent to which the presence of defect sites on the surface attenuate both chemical and biological fouling with FSCV. We compared traditional carbon-fiber microelectrodes (CFME) to pristine-CNTs and functionalized-CNTs. CFME and functionalized CNTs are highly disordered with a great deal of defect sites on the surface. The pristine-CNTs have less defects compared to the purposefully functionalized CNTs and CFME's. All electrode surfaces were characterized by a combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Chemical fouling was studied using serotonin, a popular neurotransmitter notoriously known for electrode fouling. To assess biological fouling, electrodes were implanted in brain tissue for 2 hours. Defect sites on the carbon were shown to resist biofouling compared to pristine CNTs but were detrimental for serotonin detection. Overall, we provide insight into the extent to which the electrode surface dictates fouling resistance with FSCV. This work provides evidence that careful considerations of the surface of the CNT material is needed when designing sensors for fouling resistance.