Bio-compatible growth of carbon nanotubes and their integration into bio application devices

摘要

We present the development of a technological process for growing multi-walled carbon nanotubes on platinum electrodes of impedance needles and multi-electrode array platforms which are used as biosensors and for electrical signal recording and electrical stimulation of cells. To ensure bio-compatibility of the electrodes, platinum is used as carbon nanotube catalyst instead of Fe, Ni or Co which are the most common metals. SEM characterization shows growth of high density of vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes selectively on the electrodes. Electrical and impedance measurements suggest that by generating defects on the walls of the nanotubes a high improvement of the electrodes impedance characteristic will be achieved.