Sensitive electrochemical detection of l-Cysteine at a screen-printed diamond electrode

Abstract

The optimal conditions for fabricating a screen-printed diamond electrode for the sensitive detection of l-cysteine (Cys), a non-essential amino acid, were investigated. As-grown (AG-), hydrogen-terminated (H-) and oxygen-terminated boron-doped diamond powders (O-BDDP) were prepared, and BDDP-printed electrodes were fabricated using BDDP-containing inks. Comparing the linear sweep voltammograms of Cys at AG-BDDP-, H-BDDP-, and O-BDDP-printed electrodes, among the three samples, the H-BDDP-printed electrode was found to be the most suitable for the sensitive detection of Cys at low concentrations, showing a steep slope in its calibration curve and a low background current density. In addition, the H-BDDP-printed electrode exhibited a lower limit of detection (0.620 μM) and a more negative oxidation peak potential (+0.663 V vs. Ag/AgCl) and wider linear concentration range (1–194 μM) than a H-boron-doped diamond (BDD) thin-film electrode. It is thought that a slight amount of sp2 carbon on the BDDP contributed to these optimal properties. Using the H-BDDP-printed electrode, Cys was detected in a solution containing electroactive interferents (glutathione and methionine) with a recovery of 86–104%. Therefore, it was concluded that the H-BDDP-printed electrode can be used as a highly sensitive and disposable electrochemical sensor for Cys detection.