A first adrenalone electrochemical sensor using a gold-nanoparticle/poly(pyrrole) composite-modified graphite electrode

Abstract

In this study, a pencil graphite electrode (PGE) modified with a composite of polypyrrole and Au nanoparticles (Au-NPs/PP/PGE) was developed and evaluated as a novel electrochemical sensor for the determination of adrenalone for the first time. The effects of the modification process on the pencil graphite electrode were characterized by AFM, XRD and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods. The Au-NPs/PP/PGE improved the oxidation signal of adrenalone ∼6.33 times for 150 μM adrenalone and reduced its oxidation overpotential by ∼40 mV. The presence of Au-NPs and PP was found to increase the active surface area of the pencil graphite electrode ∼5 times. The Au-NPs/PP/PGE showed a linear response ranging from 0.3 μM to 400 μM with a detection limit of 0.09 μM. The amplified Au-NPs/PP/PGE was successfully used in the determination of adrenalone in pharmaceutical serum and urine samples.