Hierarchically driven IrO 2 nanowire electrocatalysts for direct sensing of biomolecules

Applying nanoscale device fabrications toward biomolecules, ultra sensitive, selective, robust, and reliable chemical or biological microsensors have been one of the most fascinating research directions in our life science. Here we introduce hierarchically driven iridium dioxide (IrO 2) nanowires directly on a platinum (Pt) microwire, which allows a simple fabrication of the amperometric sensor and shows a favorable electronic property desired for sensing of hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2) and dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) without the aid of enzymes. This rational engineering of a nanoscale architecture based on the direct formation of the hierarchical 1-dimensional (1-D) nanostructures on an electrode can offer a useful platform for high-performance electrochemical biosensors, enabling the efficient, ultrasensitive detection of biologically important molecules. © 2012 American Chemical Society.