Nanocrystalline Pd/carbon nanotube composites synthesized using supercritical fluid for superior glucose sensing performance

With the aid of supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2), which has gas-like diffusivity, extremely low viscosity, and near-zero surface tension, the synthesized nano-sized Pd particles (approximately 5 nm in diameter) are uniformly distributed on carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The decoration density of Pd nanoparticles on the CNTs can be simply controlled, without varying the particle size, by adjusting the Pd hexafluoro-acetylacetonate precursor to CNT ratio. Since the Pd nanoparticles are highly dispersed and tightly anchored on the CNTs, the obtained composite shows enhanced electro-sensing performance toward glucose compared to that of the control sample prepared using a conventional deposition process (without SCCO2). (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.