Effects of carbon structure orientation on the performance of glucose sensors fabricated from electrospun carbon fibers

Abstract

High-performance enzyme-based glucose sensors were prepared by electrospinning carbon fibers. The efficiency of the glucose sensor was assessed based on efficient enzyme immobilization and electrical resistance transfer by examining improved porosity and electrical properties, respectively. The porosity of the electrospun carbon fiber electrode was improved by physical activation to increase the immobilization sites of the glucose oxidase enzyme. The electrical properties were improved by a thermal treatment, which caused carbon orientation effects because of the high thermal energy. The glucose oxidase enzyme immobilization was developed based on improved specific surface area and pore volume, which were studied by pore structure and image analyzers. The glucose sensor was evaluated by amperometric measurements and cyclic voltammetry. The measured current increased with higher glucose concentrations based on the effects of the developed pore structure and the electrical properties. The enzymatic kinetics were also studied using the Lineweaver–Burk equation. The sensitivity of the glucose sensor was improved significantly with increased maximum current, whereas the GOD enzyme activity was diminished by efficient GOD immobilization. It is concluded that a high-performance glucose sensor was obtained using electrospun carbon fibers based on the effects of efficient GOD enzyme immobilization and electrical resistance transfer.