Electrochemistry and voltammetric determination of L-tryptophan and L-tyrosine using a glassy carbon electrode modified with a Nafion/TiO2-graphene composite film

We describe a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a film composed of Nafion and TiO₂-graphene (TiO₂-GR) nanocomposite, and its voltammetric response to the amino acids L-tryptophane (Trp) and L-tyrosine (Tyr). The incorporation of TiO₂ nanoparticles with graphene significantly improves the electrocatalytic activity and voltammetric response compared to electrodes modified with Nafion/graphene only. The Nafion/TiO₂-GR modified electrode was used to determine Trp and Tyr with detection limits of 0.7 and 2.3 μM, and a sensitivity of 75.9 and 22.8 μA mM^?1 for Trp and Tyr, respectively.

Electrochemical sensing of catechol using a glassy carbon electrode modified with a composite made from silver nanoparticles, polydopamine, and graphene

We report on the modification of a glassy carbon electrode with a composite consisting of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), polydopamine, and graphene to give an electrochemical sensor for catechol. The composite was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, and the electrochemical behavior of catechol at the modified electrode was studied by cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemical response is greatly enhanced and thought to result from a combination of beneficial effects including the good conductivity and large surface area of the AgNPs, the high conductivity of graphene, the synergistic effects of the composite, and the increased quantity of catechol that is adsorbed on the surface of the electrode. Differential pulse voltammetric responses are proportional to the concentration of catechol between 0.5 and 240?μM levels of catechol, and the detection limit is 0.1?μM (S/N?=?3). The performance of the sensor was evaluated with catechol-spiked water samples, and recoveries range from 96.5 % to 103.1 %. The results indicated that the composite presented here is a promising substrate for use in electrochemical sensing.

A glassy carbon electrode modified with a film composed of cobalt oxide nanoparticles and graphene for electrochemical sensing of H2O2

We have prepared a graphene-based hybrid nanomaterial by electrochemical deposition of cobalt oxide nanoparticles (CoO_xNPs) on the surface of electrochemically reduced graphene oxide deposited on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry were used to characterize the immobilized nanoparticles. Electrochemical determination of H₂O₂ is demonstrated with the modified GCE at pH 7. Compared to GCEs modified with CoO_xNPs or graphene sheets only, the new electrode displays larger oxidative current response to H₂O₂, probably due to the synergistic effects between the graphene sheets and the CoO_xNPs. The sensor responds to H₂O₂ with a sensitivity of 148.6 μA mM^?1 cm^?2 and a linear response range from 5 μM to 1 mM. The detection limit is 0.2 μM at a signal to noise ratio (SNR) of three. The method was successfully applied to the determination of H₂O₂ in hydrogen peroxide samples.

Disposable electrochemical immunosensor for myeloperoxidase based on the indium tin oxide electrode modified with an ionic liquid composite film containing gold nanoparticles, poly(o-phenylenediamine) and carbon nanotubes

A disposable electrochemical myeloperoxidase (MPO) immunosensor was fabricated based on the indium tin oxide electrode modified with a film composed of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), poly(o-phenylenediamine), multi-walled carbon nanotubes and an ionic liquid. The composite film on the surface of the electrode was prepared by in situ electropolymerization using the ionic liquid as a supporting electrolyte. Negatively charged AuNPs were then adsorbed on the modified electrode via amine-gold affinity and to immobilize MPO antibody. Finally, bovine serum albumin was employed to block possible remaining active sites on the AuNPs. The modification of the electrode was studied by cyclic voltammetry and scanning electron microscopy. The factors affecting the performance of the immunosensor were investigated in detail using the hexacyanoferrate redox system. The sensor exhibited good response to MPO over two linear ranges (from 0.2 to 23.4 and from 23.4 to 300 ng.mL^?1), with a detection limit of 0.05 ng.mL^?1 (at an S/N of 3).

Dopamine sensor based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a reduced graphene oxide and palladium nanoparticles composite

We report on a sensitive electrochemical sensor for dopamine (DA) based on a glassy carbon electrode that was modified with a nanocomposite containing electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and palladium nanoparticles (Pd-NPs). The composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and electrochemical impendence spectroscopy. The electrode can oxidize DA at lower potential (234 mV vs Ag/AgCl) than electrodes modified with RGO or Pd-NPs only. The response of the sensor to DA is linear in the 1–150 μM concentration range, and the detection limit is 0.233 μM. The sensor was applied to the determination of DA in commercial DA injection solutions.

Determination of microcystin-LR with a glassy carbon impedimetric immunoelectrode modified with an ionic liquid and multiwalled carbon nanotubes

We report on a sensitive, simple, label-free impedance-based immunoelectrode for the determination of microcystin-LR (MCLR). The surface of the electrode was modified with a composite made from multiwalled carbon nanotubes and an ionic liquid, and with immobilized polyclonal antibody against MCLR. Cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy were applied to characterize the modified electrode. It is found that the multi-walled carbon nanotubes act as excellent mediators for the electron transfer between the electrode and dissolved hexacyanoferrate redox pair, while the ionic liquid renders it biocompatible. The method exhibits a wide linear range (0.005 μg?L-1 to 1.0 μg?L-1), a low detection limit (1.7 ng?L-1) and a long-term stability of around 60 days. The ionic liquid 1-amyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate gave the best impedimetric response. The new immunoelectrode is sensitive, stable, and easily prepared. It has been successfully applied to the determination of MCLR in water samples.

A sensitive and selective nitrite sensor based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with gold nanoparticles and sulfonated graphene

We describe a highly sensitive and selective amperometric sensor for the determination of nitrite. A glassy carbon electrode was modified with a composite made from gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and sulfonated graphene (SG). The modified electrode displays excellent electrocatalytic activity in terms of nitrite oxidation by giving much higher peak currents (at even lower oxidation overpotential) than those found for the bare electrode, the AuNPs-modified electrode, and the SG-modified electrode. The sensor has a linear response in the 10 μM to 3.96 mM concentration range, a very good detection sensitivity (45.44 μA mM^?1), and a lower detection limit of 0.2 μM of nitrite. Most common ions and many environmental organic pollutants do not interfere. The sensor was successfully applied to the determination of nitrite in water samples, and the results were found to be consistent with the values obtained by spectrophotometry.

One-step preparation of a composite consisting of graphene oxide, Prussian blue and chitosan for electrochemical sensing of hydrogen peroxide

We report on the single-step preparation of a composite consisting of graphene oxide (GO), Prussian blue (PB) and chitosan (Chit) that was deposited on a glassy carbon electrode and then used to determine hydrogen peroxide. The composite was obtained by mixing GO, Chit, potassium ferricyanide and ferric chloride and keeping it at 90 °C for 1 h. This method is simple and inexpensive, and does not require purification, centrifugation or sedimentation. Scanning electron microscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the GO-PB-Chit composites and revealed that PB nanoparticles were formed and uniformly distributed on the surfaces of the GO due to the integrating effects of Chit and GO. The composite displayed electrocatalytic activity in the reduction of hydrogen peroxide to which it responded with good linear relationship in the 1.0 μM to 1.0 mM concentration range, with a detection limit of 0.1 μM (at S/N?=?3).

Electrochemical tyrosine sensor based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a nanohybrid made from graphene oxide and multiwalled carbon nanotubes

We report on a glassy carbon electrode that was modified with a composite made from graphene oxide (GO) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) that enables highly sensitive determination of L-tyrosine. The sensor was characterized by transmission electron microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and its electrochemical properties by cyclic voltammetry, chronocoulometry and differential pulse voltammetry. The GO/MWCNT hybrid exhibits strong catalytic activity toward the oxidation of L-tyrosine, with a well defined oxidation peak at 761 mV. The respective current serves as the analytical information and is proportional to the L-tyrosine concentration in two ranges of different slope (0.05 to 1.0 μM and 1.0 to 650.0 μM), with limits of detection and quantification as low as 4.4 nM and 14.7 nM, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of L-tyrosine in human body fluids. The excellent reproducibility, stability, sensitivity and selectivity are believed to be due to the combination of the electrocatalytic properties of both GO and MWCNT. They are making this hybrid electrode a potentially useful electrochemical sensing platform for bioanalysis.

A thin poly(acridine orange) film containing reduced graphene oxide for voltammetric simultaneous sensing of ascorbic acid and uric acid

We have fabricated, in a single step, carbon ceramic electrodes modified with a poly(acridine orange) film containing reduced graphene oxide. They display electrocatalytic activity to ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) at pH 4.5. The anodic peak potentials of AA and UA are separated by 276 mV so that they can be well resolved in cyclic voltammetry. UA and AA were simultaneously determined in a mixture at working potentials of 170 and 400 mV, respectively. Under optimized conditions, the calibration curves for AA and UA cover the 0.8–5,000 μM and 0.6–900 μM concentration range, respectively, while detection limits are 0.3 μM and 0.2 μM. The electrode was applied to determine AA and UA in urine samples.

Simultaneous voltammetric determination of 2-nitrophenol and 4-nitrophenol based on an acetylene black paste electrode modified with a graphene-chitosan composite

We describe a simple and sensitive voltammetric method for the simultaneous determination of 2-nitrophenol and 4-nitrophenol. It is based on the use of an acetylene black paste electrode modified with a graphene-chitosan composite film (denoted as Gr-Chit/ABPE). The reduction peak currents of 2-nitrophenol (at ?252 mV) and of 4-nitrophenol (at ?340 mV) in pH 1.0 solution increase significantly at the Gr-Chit/ABPE in comparison to a bare ABPE. Factors affecting sensitivity were optimized and a linear relationship is found between peak current and the concentrations of 2-nitrophenol (in the 0.4 μM to 80 μM range) and for 4-nitrophenol (in the 0.1 μM to 80 μM range). The detection limits (at an SNR of 3 and after a 30-s accumulation time) are 200 nM for 2-nitrophenol and 80 nM for 4-nitrophenol, respectively. The modified electrode was successfully applied to the direct and parallel determination of 2-nitrophenol and 4-nitrophenol in spiked water samples.

Studies on the electrochemistry of rutin and its interaction with bovine serum albumin using a glassy carbon electrode modified with carbon-coated nickel nanoparticles

We report on a glassy carbon electrode modified with carbon-coated nickel nanoparticles (C-Ni/GCE) that can be used to study the electrochemical properties of rutin and its interaction with bovine serum albumin (BSA) via cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The effects of pH value, accumulation potential, accumulation time and reaction time were optimized. A pair of reversible peaks is found in the potential range of 0 to around 0.6 V at pH?5.0. Two linear response ranges (with different slopes) are found, one in the 2 to 210 nM concentration range, the other between 0.21 and 1.72 μM. The detection limit is as low as 0.6 nM. On addition of BSA to the rutin solution, a decrease of the current is observed that is proportional to the concentration of BSA. The binding constant and stoichiometric ratio were calculated.

Facile one-step electrochemical fabrication of a non-enzymatic glucose-selective glassy carbon electrode modified with copper nanoparticles and graphene

We have developed a non-enzymatic glucose sensor by using a composite prepared from copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) and graphene which can be prepared by simple 1-step electrochemical reduction using graphene oxide (GO) and copper ion as the starting materials. The GO is electrochemically reduced to graphene at a voltage of ?1.5 V, and this is accompanied by the simultaneous formation of CuNPs on the surface of the graphene. This novel nanocomposite combines the advantages of graphene and of CuNPs and displays good electrocatalytic activity toward glucose in alkaline media. The performance of the respective glucose electrode was evaluated by amperometric experiments and revealed a fast response (<2 s), a low detection limit (200 nM), and high sensitivity (607 μA mM^?1). The sensor also exhibits good reproducibility and very good specificity for glucose over ascorbic acid, dopamine, uric acid, fructose, lactose and sucrose.

A glassy carbon electrode modified with antimony and poly(p-aminobenzene sulfonic acid) for sensing lead(II) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry

We have developed a sensor for the square wave anodic stripping voltammetric determination of Pb(II). A glassy carbon electrode was modified with a thin film of an antimony/poly(p-aminobenzene sulfonic acid) composite in air-saturated aqueous solution of pH 2.0. Compared to a conventional antimony film electrode, the new one yields a larger stripping signal for Pb(II). The conditions of polymerization, the concentration of Sb(III), the pH value of the sample solution, the deposition potential and time, frequency, potential amplitude, and step increment potential were optimized. Under the optimum conditions, a linear response was observed for Pb(II) in the range of 0.5 to 150.0 μg?L^?1. The detection limit for Pb(II) is 0.1 μg?L^?1.

Highly sensitive and selective voltammetric detection of mercury(II) using an ITO electrode modified with 5-methyl-2-thiouracil, graphene oxide and gold nanoparticles

We have developed an electrochemical sensor for highly selective and sensitive determination of Hg(II). It is based on the specific binding of 5-methyl-2-thiouracil (MTU) and Hg(II) to the surface of an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode modified with a composite made from graphene oxide (GO) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). This leads to a largely enhanced differential pulse voltammetric response for Hg(II). Following optimization of the method, a good linear relationship (R?=?0.9920) is found between peak current and the concentration of Hg(II) in the 5.0–110.0 nM range. The limit of detection (LOD) is 0.78 nM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. A study on the interference by several metal ions revealed no interferences. The feasibility of this method was demonstrated by the analyses of real water samples. The LODs are 6.9, 1.0 and 1.9 nM for tap water, bottled water and lake water samples, respectively, and recoveries for the water samples spiked with 8.0, 50.0 and 100.0 nM were 83.9–96.8 %, with relative standard deviations ranging from 3.3 % to 5.2 %.

Electrochemical synthesis of a graphene sheet and gold nanoparticle-based nanocomposite, and its application to amperometric sensing of dopamine

We describe a simple, green and controllable approach for electrochemical synthesis of a nanocomposite made up from electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) and gold nanoparticles. This material possesses the specific features of both gold nanoparticles and graphene. Its morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy which reveals a homogeneous distribution of gold nanoparticles on the graphene sheets. Cyclic voltammetry was used to evaluate the electrochemical properties of this nanocomposite towards dopamine by modification of it on surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Compared to the bare GCE, the electrode modified with gold nanoparticles, and the electrode modified with ERGO, the one modified with the nanocomposite displays better electrocatalytic activity. Its oxidation peak current is linearly proportional to the concentration of dopamine (DA) in the range from 0.1 to 10?μM, with a detection limit of 0.04?μM (at S/N?=?3). The modified electrode also displays good storage stability, reproducibility, and selectivity.

Miniaturised enzymatic conductometric biosensor with Nafion membrane for the direct determination of formaldehyde in water samples

A new conductometric enzyme-based biosensor was developed for the determination of formaldehyde (FA) in aqueous solutions. The biosensor was prepared by cross-linking formaldehyde dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas putida with bovine serum albumin in saturated glutaraldehyde vapours (GA) at the surface of interdigitated gold microelectrodes. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide cofactor (NAD⁺) was added in solution at each measurement to maintain enzyme activity. Addition of a Nafion layer over the enzyme modified electrode resulted in a significant increase of biosensor signal due to enhanced accumulation of protons generated by enzymatic reaction at the electrode surface. Different parameters affecting enzyme activity or playing a role in ionic transfer through the Nafion membrane were optimised. In optimal conditions (0.045 mg enzyme, 30 min exposure to GA, 0.3 μL of a 1 % (v/v) Nafion solution deposit, measurement in 5 mM phosphate buffer pH 7 containing 20 μM NAD⁺), the biosensor signal was linear up to 10 mM FA, and the detection limit was 18 μM. Relative standard deviations calculated from five consecutive replicates of FA solutions were lower than 5 % in the 1–10 mM range. The biosensor was successfully applied to the determination of FA in spiked water samples (tap water and Rhone river water), with recoveries in the 95–110 % range.

Amperometric nonenzymatic determination of glucose based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with nickel(II) oxides and graphene

We have developed a stable and sensitive nonenzymatic glucose sensor by modifying a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with a composite incorporating nickel(II) oxides and reduced graphene. The oxides were generated by directly electrodepositing nickel on the GCE with a graphene modifier using a multi-potential pulse process, and then oxidizing nickel to nickel(II) oxides by potential cycling. In comparison to the conventional nickel(II) oxides-modified GCE, this new nickel(II) oxides-graphene modified GCE (NiO-GR/GCE) has an about 1.5 times larger current response toward the nonenzymatic oxidation of glucose in alkaline media. The response to glucose is linear in the 20 μM to 4.5 mM concentration range. The limit of detection is 5 μM (at a S/N of 3), and the response time is very short (<3 s). Other beneficial features include selectivity, reproducibility and stability. A comparison was performed on the determination of glucose in commercial red wines by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and revealed the promising aspects of this sensor with respect to the determination of glucose in real samples.

Detection of lead(II) using an glassy carbon electrode modified with Nafion, carbon nanotubes and benzo-18-crown-6

A glassy carbon electrode was modified with Nafion, carbon nanotubes and benzo-18-crown-6 to give an electrode for the selective determination of lead(II) via square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. The use of carbon nanotubes with their extraordinary electrical conductivity and strong adsorption ability warrants high sensitivity. Benzo-18-crown-6 is employed as a “molecular scavenger” because of its excellent selectivity for lead(II). The modified electrode shows enhanced sensitivity, reproducibility and selectivity for lead(II) even without applying an electrical potential during the accumulation time. It responds linearly to lead(II) in the 1 to 30 nM concentration range (with a correlation coefficient of 0.9992) after a 10-min accumulation time. The detection limit is 1 nM. The sensor exhibits excellent selectivity over other heavy metal ions such as Cd(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Hg(II).

Glucose biosensor based on a platinum electrode modified with rhodium nanoparticles and with glucose oxidase immobilized on gold nanoparticles

We have developed an enzymatic glucose biosensor that is based on a flat platinum electrode which was covered with electrophoretically deposited rhodium (Rh) nanoparticles and then sintered to form a large surface area. The biosensor was obtained by depositing glucose oxidase (GOx), Nafion, and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the Rh electrode. The electrical potential and the fractions of Nafion and GOx were optimized. The resulting biosensor has a very high sensitivity (68.1 μA mM^?1 cm^?2) and good linearity in the range from 0.05 to 15 mM (r?=?0.989). The limit of detection is as low as 0.03 mM (at an SNR of 3). The glucose biosensor also is quite selective and is not interfered by electroactive substances including ascorbic acid, uric acid and acetaminophen. The lifespan is up to 90 days. It was applied to the determination of glucose in blood serum, and the results compare very well with those obtained with a clinical analyzer.