Surface-modified electrodes

A method for the preparation of a surface-modified electrode which comprises:

• (a) forming a monolayer coating of a carbonaceous pyropolymer possessing recurring units containing at least carbon and hydrogen atoms on a refractory inorganic oxide support having a surface area in the range of from about 1 to about 500 m.sup.2 /g and a macropore volume in the range of from about 50 to about 2000 Angstroms, wherein said pyropolymer coating replicates said surface area and macropore size of said refractory inorganic oxide;
• (b) contacting said layer of pyropolymer with a solution of a water-soluble polyamine to entrap and adsorb said polyamine within the pores of said pyropolymer;
• (c) contacting said pyropolymeric layer with said polyamine entrapped and adsorbed therein with a molar excess of a bifunctional monomeric material to attach one extremity of said monomeric material to said polyamine and to provide pendant groups at the other extremity of said monomeric material;
• (d) contacting said pendant groups with an excess of an enzyme to form a conjugate attachment of said enzyme to said monomeric material and thereby to said carbonaceous pyropolymer-coated refractory inorganic oxide support;
• and
• (e) recovering the resultant surface-modified electrode.