Highly Sensitive and Selective Determination of Dopamine in the Presence of Ascorbic Acid Using Pt@Au/MWNTs Modified Electrode

Nanoparticles containing platinum and gold supported on MWNTs (Pt@Au/MWNTs) were successfully prepared by successive reduction. A novel sensor was fabricated with Pt@Au/MWNTs nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode coating with nafion. Compared with the previous reports, the electrode exhibited greatly improved performance towards the oxidation and determination of dopamine in the presence of ascorbic acid. A higher sensitivity of 1.16 mA cm^?2 mM^?1 with a wider linear concentration range of dopamine up to 120 μM and a low detection limit of 8.0×10^?8 M were obtained in neutral solution. Moreover, the modified electrode presented high stability and reproducibility. The interference of ascorbic acid can be eliminated effectively. The present work provides a simple and practical approach to selective detection of dopamine in the presence of ascorbic acid.     

Voltammetric Behavior and Determination of Tocopherol in Vegetable Oils at a Polypyrrole Modified Electrode

The voltammetric behavior of α‐tocopherol in the presence of vegetable oil is studied at a polypyrrole modified Pt electrode in a 1,2‐dichloroethane‐ethanol medium with cyclic voltammetry. Cyclic voltammogram of α‐tocopherol showed a well‐defined oxidation peak; the peak potential shifting toward less positive and a much higher peak current obtained at a polypyrrole modified electrode than that obtained at the unmodified Pt electrode. An electroanalytical method for the determination of α‐tocopherol based on its electrochemical oxidation at the polypyrrole modified Pt electrode is developed. Using differential pulse voltammetry, the peak currents were found to increase linearly with the α‐tocopherol concentration over the range of 5.0 to 300 μM, with a sensitivity of 5.38×10^?2 A L mol^?1 and the limit of detection of 1.5 μM (S/N=3), the detection time being about 90 s for each assay. The interference of other synthetic antioxidants such as TBHQ, BHA and BHT to the analysis of α‐tocopherol was investigated. The developed method is applied to the quantification of tocopherols in six vegetable oils, showing that the results are in good agreement with those by HPLC method.     

Electrochemical Detection of Epinephrine Using an L-Glutamic Acid Functionalized Graphene Modified Electrode

The development and application of an L-glutamic acid functionalized graphene nanocomposite, modified glassy carbon electrode are reported for the determination of epinephrine. The properties of the nanocomposite were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The modified electrode had high sensitivity and strongly catalytic activity for the detection of epinephrine. A linear relationship between the epinephrine concentration and the current response was obtained in the range of 1 × 10^?7 M to 1 × 10^?3 M by differential pulse voltammetry with a limit of detection of 3 × 10^?8 M. The modified electrode was employed to determine epinephrine in urine with satisfactory results.     

A non‐covalent functionalization of copper tetraphenylporphyrin/chemically reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite for the selective determination of dopamine

A non‐covalent functionalization based on a copper tetraphenylporphyrin/chemically reduced graphene oxide (Cu‐TPP/CRGO) nanocomposite is demonstrated for selective determination of dopamine (DA) in pharmaceutical and biological samples. A homogeneous electron‐rich environment can be created on the graphene surface by Cu‐TPP due to the π–π non‐covalent stacking interaction. The synthesized Cu‐TPP/CRGO nanocomposite was characterized using scanning electron microscopy NMR, ultraviolet–visible and electrochemical impedance spectroscopies. The electrocatalytic activity of DA was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The oxidation peak current (I_pa) of DA increased linearly with increasing concentration of DA in the range 2–200 μM. The detection limit was calculated as 0.76 μM with a high sensitivity of 2.46 μA μM^?1 cm ^{? 2}. The practicality of the proposed DA sensor was evaluated in DA hydrochloride injection, human urine and saliva, and showed satisfactory recovery results for the detection of DA. In addition, the Cu‐TPP/CRGO nanocomposite‐modified electrode showed excellent stability, repeatability and reproducibility towards the detection of DA. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nickel Hydroxide and Intercalated Graphene with Ionic Liquid Nanocomposite‐modified Electrode for Sensing of Glucose

A novel non‐enzymatic glucose sensor based on nickel hydroxide and intercalated graphene with ionic liquid (G‐IL) nanocomposite modified glass carbon electrode was fabricated. Scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectra and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy of the nanocomposite confirmed the morphology and ingredient of Ni(OH)₂ as well as G‐IL. Moreover, experimental results of cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometry indicated the sensing properties of Ni(OH)₂ at Ni(OH)₂/G‐IL modified electrode towards the typical electrocatalytic oxidation process of glucose at 0.43 V in 0.10 M NaOH. The current response was linearly related to glucose concentration in a range from 0.5 to 500 μM with a detection limit of 0.2 μM (S/N = 3) and sensitivity of 647.8 μA mM^?1 cm^?2. The response time of the sensor to glucose was less than 2 s. This work may be expected to develop an excellent electrochemical sensing platform of G‐IL as a catalysis carrier.     

Electrooxidative behavior and determination of trifluoperazine at multiwalled carbon nanotube-modified glassy carbon electrode

The mechanism of electrochemical oxidation of trifluoperazine has been proposed on the basis of cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry at a multiwalled carbon nanotube-modified glassy carbon electrode. The modified electrode exhibits catalytic activity, high sensitivity, and stability. The oxidation process exhibited an adsorption-controlled behavior. Also, depending on this adsorption control, a sensitive electroanalytical method for the determination of trifluoperazine has been investigated by adsorptive stripping differential pulse voltammetry. Under the optional conditions, the anodic peak current was linear to the trifluoperazine concentration over the range of 2.08 10^?8?M to 1.67 10^?6?M, and the limit of detection was 7.49 10^?10?M. The modified electrode had good stability and repeatability, and it was successfully applied to the determination of trifluoperazine in pharmaceuticals.     

Simultaneous determination of levodopa and carbidopa by a novel nanostructure modified carbon paste electrode

The electrochemical behavior of levodopa (LD) was investigated on the surface of a carbon paste electrode modified with TiO₂ nanoparticles and 2,2??-(1,2 butanediylbis(nitriloethylidyne))-bis-hydroquinone (BNH). The prepared modified electrode showed an efficient catalytic role in the electrochemical oxidation of LD, leading to a remarkable decrease in oxidation overpotential and enhancement of the kinetics of the electrode reaction. The mechanism of the electrocatalytic process on the surface of the modified electrode was analyzed by obtaining the cyclic voltammograms in various potential sweep rates. This modified electrode exhibited well-separated oxidation peaks for LD and carbidopa (CD). The differential pulse voltammetry was applied as a very sensitive analytical method for the determination of LD and CD. A linear dynamic range of 2.0?C600.0 and 20.0?C400.0???M with a detection limit of 0.2???M (with sensitivity of 0.199 ??A ??M^?1) and 10???M (with sensitivity of 0.024???A???M^?1) was obtained for LD and CD, respectively. The modified electrode was prepared quite easily and renewed on the surface by simple polishing.     

Electroanalysis of Dopamine at RuO2 Modified Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube Electrode

Electrochemical behavior of dopamine at the RuO₂‐modified vertically aligned carbon nanotubes electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The RuO₂‐modified carbon nanotube electrode showed higher electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of dopamine than the MWNTs electrode in 0.10 M phosphate buffer solution. At an applied potential of +0.4 V, the RuO₂/MWNTs electrode exhibited a wide detection range up to 3.6×10^?3 M with detection limit of 6.0×10^?8 M (signal/noise=3) for dopamine determination. Meanwhile, the optimized sensor for dopamine displayed a sensitivity of 83.8 μA mM^?1 and response time of 5 s with addition of 0.20 mM dopamine. In addition, DPV experiment revealed that interfering species such as ascorbic acid and uric acid could be effectively avoided. The RuO₂/MWNTs electrode presents stable, highly sensitive, favorable selectivity and fast amperometric response of dopamine.     

Voltammetric Determination of Uric Acid at a Fullerene‐C60‐Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

Glassy carbon electrode modified by microcrystals of fullerene‐C₆₀ mediates the voltammetric determination of uric acid (UA) in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA). Interference of AA was overcome owing to the ability of pretreated fullerene‐C₆₀‐modified glassy carbon electrode. Based on its strong catalytic function towards the oxidation of UA and AA, the overlapping voltammetric response of uric acid and ascorbic acid is resolved into two well‐defined voltammetric peaks with lowered oxidation potential and enhanced oxidation currents under conditions of both linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and Osteryoung square‐wave voltammetry (OSWV). At pH 7.2, a linear calibration graph is obtained for UA in linear sweep voltammetry over the range from 0.5 μM to 700 μM with a correlation coefficient of 0.9904 and a sensitivity of 0.0215 μA μM^?1 . The detection limit (3σ) is 0.2 μM for standard solution. AA in less than four fold excess does not interfere. The sensitivity and detection limit in OSWV were found as 0.0255 μA μM^?1 and 0.12 μM, for standard solution respectively. The presence of physiologically common interferents (i.e. adenine, hypoxanthine and xanthine) negligibly affects the response of UA. The fullerene‐C₆₀‐modified electrode exhibited a stable, selective and sensitive response to uric acid in the presence of interferents.     

The Fabrication and Characterization of a Nickel Nanoparticle Modified Boron Doped Diamond Electrode for Electrocatalysis of Primary Alcohol Oxidation

We report the fabrication of a Ni nanoparticle modified BDD electrode and its application in the electrocatalysis of primary alcohol electrooxidation. Modification was achieved via electrodeposition from Ni(NO₃)₂ dissolved in sodium acetate solution (pH 5). Characterization of the Ni‐modified BDD (Ni‐BDD) was performed using ex situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) and high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX). Large nanoparticles of nickel were observed on the BDD surface ranging 5 to 690 nm in height and 0.18 μm^?3 in volume, and an average number density of ca. 13×10⁶ nanoparticles cm^?2 was determined. The large range of sizes suggests progressive rather than instantaneous nucleation and growth. Electrocatalysis of ethanol and glycerol, was conducted in an alkaline medium using an unmodified BDD, Ni‐BDD and a bulk Ni macro electrode. The Ni‐BDD electrode gave the better electrocatalytic performance, with glycerol showing the greatest sensitivity. Linear calibration plots were obtained for the ethanol and glycerol additions over concentration ranges of 2.8–28.0 mM and 23–230 μM respectively. This gave an ethanol limit of detection of 1.7 mM and sensitivity of 0.31 mA/M, and the glycerol a limit of detection of 10.3 μM with a sensitivity of 35 mA/M.     

Fe‐enriched Clay‐coated and Reduced Graphene Oxide‐modified N‐doped Polymer Nanocomposite: A Natural Recognition Element‐based Sensing Electrode for DNT

Dinitrotoluene (DNT) is a signature material of all nitro‐aromatic explosives including the lethal 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT). A clay‐modified reduced graphene oxide (rGO)‐polymer nanocomposite was prepared as sensing electrode for the detection of (DNT) in the aquatic systems. rGO was in situ dispersed in the electro‐conductive N‐doped phenol/formaldehyde polymer and the clay ‘montmorillonite’ was coated on the nanocomposite. The clay, containing iron as one of its mineral components, served as the recognition element for DNT. Tested using electrochemical measurement techniques – cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry, the prepared sensing electrode exhibited a low detection limit (0.0016 μM) on signal to noise ratio basis (S/N=3) and excellent linearity (R²=0.997) over 0.02–10 mg L^?1 with high sensitivity value (428 μA mM^?1 cm^?2) for DNT. The electrode showed negligible interference with the gravimetric and volumetric salts commonly present in seawater, and also, with explosive derivatives. The separate tests performed in a simulated seawater confirmed the suitability of the prepared electrode for use in field applications.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of captopril using a carbon-paste electrode modified with copper-cobalt hexacyanoferrate

A carbon-paste electrode was modified with copper-cobalt hexacyanoferrate by consecutive potential cycling. The kinetic parameters were calculated for the electroactive species. The resulting electrode exhibited electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of captopril. The kinetics of the electrocatalytic reaction was studied. A linear relationship was observed between anodic current and the concentration of captopril in the range of 5.0 × 10^?6–3.1 × 10^?5 μM with a detection limit of 4.2 μM (S/N = 3). The modified electrode was used in the analysis of captopril tablets successfully.     

Single step modification of copper electrode for the highly sensitive and selective non-enzymatic determination of glucose

A non-enzymatic sensor was developed for the determination of glucose in alkaline medium by anodisation of copper in sodium potassium tartrate solution. The morphology of the modified copper electrode was studied by scanning electron microscopy, and its electrochemical behavior by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The electrode enables direct electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose on a CuO/Cu electrode at 0.7 V in 0.1 M sodium hydroxide. At this potential, the sensor is highly selective to glucose even in the presence of ascorbic acid, uric acid, or dopamine which are common interfering species. The sensor displays a sensitivity of 761.9 μA mM^?1 cm^?2, a linear detection range from 2 μM to 20 mM, a response time of <1 s, and a detection limit of 1 μM (S/N = 3). It was tested for determination of glucose level in blood serum.     

Nonenzymatic dopamine biosensor based on tannin nanocomposite

A dopamine (DA) biosensor was developed based on polypyrrole/tannin/cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (PPy/TA/CTAB) nanocomposite and central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was employed for the optimization of conditions. Chemical polymerization of the PPy/TA in the presence of a cationic surfactant, CTAB, reduced the particle size of composite and a rod-like structure with a lumpy surface and high porosity was observed for nanocomposite justifying the highest current response for the modified electrode. Amperometry and differential pulse voltammetry analyses were applied for all electrochemical measurements and DA detection in the range of 0.5–100 μM. The good adhesion of nanocomposite on the electrode surface, as well as porosity and high surface area of the modified electrode, enhanced the diffusion of DA molecules inside the matrix. Amperometry analysis of the Screen printed carbon electrode/PPy/TA/CTAB modified electrode displayed a good sensitivity of 0.039 μA (μM)⁻¹ toward DA with the limit of detection of 2.9 × 10^–7 M. The modified biosensor also excludes the interfering species of ascorbic acid and uric acid which makes this sensor appropriate for DA determination. The proposed biosensor showed an acceptable reproducibility and repeatability with low relative standard deviations of 4.8% and 4.4%, respectively.     

An Amperometric Biological Toxic Hydrazine Sensor Based on Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Iron Tetrasulfonated Phthalocyanine Composite Modified Electrode

Hydrazines are well‐known for their diverse biological properties but especially for their toxicity. An amperometric hydrazine sensor was developed at multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and iron tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine (FeTsPc) composite modified electrode for the first time. The TEM and UV‐Vis spectroscopy results revealed the successful formation of MWCNT/FeTsPc composite. Compared with the response of MWCNT and FeTsPc modified electrodes, the MWCNT/FeTsPc composite showed enhanced oxidation current response with lower overpotential for hydrazine. Under optimum conditions, the amperometric i–t response of hydrazine was linear in the concentration range from 100 nM L^?1 to 3 μM L^?1 with the detection limit of 7.6 nM L^?1. The response time of hydrazine was found as 6 s with a high sensitivity of 7.615 μA/μM L^?1 cm^?2.     

Controlled Electrodeposition of Au‐Copper Oxide Nanocomposite on a Renewable Carbon Ceramic Electrode for Sensitive Determination of NADH in Serum Samples

In this study, a sensitive nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) biosensor based on Au‐Copper oxide nanocomposite modified carbon ceramic electrode (Au?CuO/CCE) was introduced. The developed NADH biosensor was prepared by controlled electrodeposition of copper and Au nanoparticles on the surface of a renewable CCE and was turned to Au?CuO/CCE by cycling the potential in alkaline media. The prepared electrode was carefully characterized with scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and cyclic voltammetry techniques. According to scan rate study, surface coverage (Γ) of the fabricated Au?CuO/CCE was calculated to be 1.54×10^?8 mol cm^?2 which was 3 time more than CuO/CCE. The fabricated electrode is well stable which could be reliably utilized for the determination of NADH with amperometry technique over the concentration range of 1–29 μM with sensitivity and detection limit (S/N=3) of 0.1025 μA μM^?1 and 0.09 μM respectively. The prepared biosensor was used for NADH determination in serum samples with fast response time and satisfactory analytical results.     

Low potential detection of nicotine at multiwalled carbon nanotube–alumina-coated silica nanocomposite

Electrocatalytic oxidation of nicotine at multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)–alumina-coated silica (ACS) nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode are described. The sensing performance of the MWCNT–ACS nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode for the electrooxidation of nicotine was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and amperometry in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 8). The MWCNT–ACS nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode exhibited the abilities to decrease the electrooxidation potential, to prevent the electrode surface fouling, and to raise the current responses. The MWCNT–ACS nanocomposite responded rapidly to nicotine with a sensitivity of 1.786 A M^?1 cm^?2 and a detection limit of 1.42 μM (according to 3σ criterion). A signal almost 180 times more sensitive was obtained at MWCNT–ACS nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrodes as compared to bare glassy carbon electrode. The nicotine oxidation potential obtained in this study is much lower than that at boron-doped diamond electrodes.     

Nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on glassy carbon electrode modified with a nanocomposite composed of nickel hydroxide and graphene

We report on a nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on a glassy carbon electrode that was electrochemically modified with a nanocomposite prepared from nickel hydroxide and graphene. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the nickel hydroxide in the nanocomposite was present in the form of a nanostructure of three-dimensional spheres that were assembled by many densely arranged nanosheets. The electrocatalytic activity of the electrode toward the oxidation of glucose was investigated by chronoamperometry. The current response was linearly related to the glucose concentration in the range from 1 to 10?μM, with a sensitivity of 494?μA?mM^–1?cm^–2 and a correlation coefficient of 0.9990, and a second range (from 10 to 1000?μM with a sensitivity of 328?μA?mM^–1?cm^–2 and a correlation coefficient of 0.9990). The detection limit was 0.6?μM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, and the response time was as short as 2?s.

Detection of NADH and ethanol at a graphite electrode modified with titania sol-gel/Meldola’s Blue/MWCNT/Nafion nanocomposite film

For electrocatalytic determination of NADH, a graphite electrode modified with titania sol-gel/Meldola’s Blue/MWCNT/Nafion nanocomposite was proposed. The composition of the matrix film was optimised in terms of the content of carbon nanotubes and Nafion. Incorporation of a redox mediator, Meldola’s Blue, into the nanocomposite film enabled electrocatalytic determination of NADH at a low potential, −50 mV. For determination of ethanol, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) was immobilized into the matrix layer. Experimental conditions affecting the biosensor response were examined, including enzyme loading, temperature of measurement and pH of background electrolyte. Assessments of the analytical characteristics of the biosensor were performed with respect to sensitivity, limit of detection, operational stability, repeatability and reproducibility. The proposed biosensor showed electrocatalytic activity toward oxidation of ethanol with sensitivity of 2.24 μA L mmol⁻¹, linear range from 0.05 to 1.1 mmol L⁻¹, and limit of detection of 25 μmol L⁻¹. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant was 1.24 mmol L⁻¹, indicating a high biological affinity of ADH/titania sol-gel/Meldola’s Blue/MWCNT/Nafion electrode for ethanol. The developed biosensor was tested in determinations of ethanol content in alcoholic beverages.     

Direct Electrochemical Determination of Glyphosate at Copper Phthalocyanine/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Film Electrodes

A copper phthalocyanine/multiwalled carbon nanotube film‐modified glassy carbon electrode has been used for the determination of the herbicide glyphosate (Gly) at ?50 mV vs. SCE by electrochemical oxidation using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that Gly is adsorbed on the metallic centre of the copper phthalocyanine molecule, with formation of Gly‐copper ion complexes. An analytical method was developed using DPV in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution, without any pretreatment steps: Gly was determined in the concentration range of 0.83–9.90 μmol L^?1, with detection limit 12.2 nmol L^?1 (2.02 μg L^?1).