Amino-functionalized Cup-stacked Carbon Nanofibers as Electrode Materials for Suppressing Protein Fouling

Amino-functionalized cup-stacked carbon nanofibers (CSCNFs), the surface of which provides highly ordered graphene edges and amino groups, were investigated as electrode materials by using typical redox species in electrochemistry, namely, [Fe(CN)6](3-/4-) and Fe-2 +/-/3 +/-. The electron transfer rate of [Fe(CN)6](3-/4-) was accelerated and that of Fe-2 +/-/3 +/- was decelerated by amino groups, mainly owing to the electrostatic interaction and repulsion, respectively. The hydrophilic amino-functionalized CSCNF surface also allowed the suppression of protein adsorption. Thus, the amino-functionalized CSCNFs would be useful electrode materials for biosensing and other electrochemical devices.