AVS 53rd International Symposium
    Nanometer-scale Science and Technology Thursday Sessions
       Session NS+BI-ThM

Paper NS+BI-ThM4
Polypyrrole Based Nano-Electrode Arrays Produced by Colloidal Lithography

Thursday, November 16, 2006, 9:00 am, Room 2016

Session: Biological and Molecular Applications of Nanoscale Structures
Presenter: P. Lisboa, European Commission, Institute of Health and Consumer Protection, Italy
Authors: P. Lisboa, European Commission, Institute of Health and Consumer Protection, Italy
A. Valsesia, European Commission, Institute of Health and Consumer Protection, Italy
P. Colpo, European Commission, Institute of Health and Consumer Protection, Italy
F. Rossi, European Commission, Institute of Health and Consumer Protection, Italy
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The implementation of sensor platforms providing high sensitivity of detection is a crucial step for the design of the new analytical device generation for biosensor developments. Electrochemical sensors have shown a high potential for this challenge. A drastic increase of sensitivity of bio-event detection@footnote 1@ has been proven by designing platform with active/non-actives region at nanoscale. Besides, the electrochemical sensitivity can be as well enhanced by using nano-electrode arrays that increase mass transport rate.@footnote 2@ Polypyrrole (PPy) is a good candidate to fulfil these requirements. Its preferential material for bio-analytical electrochemistry based sensor thanks to its excellent biocompatibility and higher conductivity, together with the possibility of being functionalised with biological relevant functional groups.@footnote 3@ In this work PPy nano pillars were fabricated by electrochemically growing PPy in a nano-template of gold nano-seeds produced by colloidal lithography. Atomic force Microscopy and Scanning Kelvin Microscopy demonstrated that PPy grown only inside the conductive gold seeds, creating conductive nano pillars surrounded by an insulating material. The nano-structured surfaces were studied by Cyclic Voltammetry using hexacyanoferrate and the typical sigmoidal shape voltammogram of nanoelectrodes was obtained.@footnote 2@ The nanoelectrode character of the surfaces is a promising feature to improve the already high sensitivity of biosensors based in nanostructured surfaces. The functionalisation of the nano pillars with bio-active chemical functions gives the possibility of protein immobilization in specific nano-areas which is promising for the production of an array of nano-sensors. @FootnoteText@ @footnote 1@A. Valsesia, P. Colpo, P. Lisboa, M. Lejeune, T. Meziani, F. Rossi, Langmuir 2006, 22, 1763.@footnote 2@D.Arrigan, The Analyst, 2004, 129, 1157.@footnote 3@P. Lisboa, D. Gilliland, G. Ceccone, A. Valsesia, F. Rossi, Applied Surface Science 2005, In Press.