Dawson-type polyoxometalate nanoclusters confined in a carbon nanotube matrix as efficient redox mediators for enzymatic glucose biofuel cell anodes and glucose biosensors.

Two new inorganic-organic hybrid materials based on heteropolyoxometalates (POMs): (CHN)[PMoO]·4HO (PMo) and (CHNO)[HPWO]·6HO (PW) are reported as mediators for electron transfer between FAD-dependent glucose dehydrogenase (FAD-GDH) and a multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) matrix for glucose biofuel cell and biosensor applications. These polyoxometalates were chosen due to their promising redox behavior in a potential range for mediated electron transfer with the glucose oxidizing enzyme, FAD-GDH. PMo and PW were immobilized on 1-pyrenemethylamine (PMA) functionalized MWCNT deposits.