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New applications of boron-doped diamond electrode for voltammetric determination of ascorbic acid

MetadataDetails
Publication Date2016-02-15
JournalStudia Iuridica Lublinensia (Uniwersytet Marii Curie-SkƂodowskiej w Lublinie)
AuthorsIlona Sadok, Katarzyna Tyszczuk‐Rotko, Agnieszka Szwagierek
InstitutionsMaria Curie-SkƂodowska University
Citations1
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Technical Documentation & Analysis: Boron-Doped Diamond for Voltammetric Sensing

Section titled “Technical Documentation & Analysis: Boron-Doped Diamond for Voltammetric Sensing”

This research validates the superior performance of bare, unmodified Boron-Doped Diamond (BDD) electrodes for high-sensitivity electroanalysis, specifically the determination of Ascorbic Acid (AA). 6CCVD is uniquely positioned to supply the high-purity, custom BDD materials required to replicate and advance this sensing technology.

  • Material Validation: Unmodified BDD (1000 ppm B doping, 0.075 Ωm resistivity) was confirmed as the optimal working electrode, significantly reducing background current compared to Glassy Carbon (GC).
  • High Sensitivity: The Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) method achieved a low detection limit (LOD) of 1.63·10-7 mol/dmÂł for AA.
  • Broad Linear Range: The sensor demonstrated linearity across a wide concentration range, from 5·10-7 to 2·10-3 mol/dmÂł.
  • Matrix Robustness: The method was successfully applied for fast, simple determination of AA in complex real-world samples, including human urine and commercial dietary supplements.
  • Electrode Stability: The BDD electrode exhibited excellent repeatability (RSD 2.86%) and did not require electrochemical pre-treatment or surface cleaning between measurements.
  • 6CCVD Advantage: We provide custom-doped BDD substrates and plates, polished to Ra < 5 nm, ensuring the high-quality, stable surface necessary for reliable voltammetric sensing applications.

The following critical parameters were extracted from the experimental data, defining the performance and material requirements of the BDD sensor system.

ParameterValueUnitContext
Electrode MaterialBoron-Doped Diamond (BDD)N/AUnmodified, bare electrode
Boron Doping Level1000ppmSpecified BDD characteristic
Electrical Resistivity0.075ΩmMeasured BDD property
Working Electrode Diameter3mmInner diameter of PTFE body
Optimal Supporting Electrolyte0.05mol/dmÂłAcetate buffer concentration
Optimal pH4.6N/AFor highest and best-formed AA signal
Linear Concentration Range5·10-7 to 2·10-3mol/dm³For AA determination
Detection Limit (LOD)1.63·10-7mol/dm³Estimated from 3x standard deviation
Repeatability (RSD)2.86%For 5·10-6 mol/dm³ AA solution
Recovery Range (Supplements)100.75 to 103.62%Accuracy validation in commercial products

The successful determination of ascorbic acid relied on precise material preparation and optimized Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) parameters.

  1. Material Selection: A bare BDD electrode with a high boron doping level (1000 ppm) and low resistivity (0.075 Ωm) was chosen as the working electrode, demonstrating superior performance over Glassy Carbon (GC).
  2. Electrode Polishing: The BDD surface was maintained by daily polishing using 0.3 ”m alumina slurry on a Buehler polishing pad to ensure a clean, active surface.
  3. Electrolyte Optimization: An acetate buffer solution was optimized for both concentration (0.05 mol/dmÂł) and pH (4.6) to maximize the anodic peak current of AA.
  4. Voltammetry Technique: Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) was used for measurement, providing high sensitivity.
  5. Optimized DPV Parameters:
    • Step Potential: 2 mV
    • Modulation Amplitude: 50 mV
    • Scan Rate: 20 mV/s
    • Potential Scan Range: -1.45 V to 1.0 V
  6. Surface Stability Confirmation: Experiments confirmed that AA does not accumulate on the BDD surface, eliminating the need for accumulation time or a cleaning step between successive measurements, simplifying the analytical procedure.
  7. Real Sample Analysis: The procedure was validated by analyzing AA in complex matrices, including human urine (1% v/v dilution) and extracts from commercial dietary supplements.

6CCVD provides the foundational MPCVD diamond materials necessary to replicate this high-performance voltammetric sensing research and scale it for commercial applications. Our expertise in controlling doping levels and surface quality directly addresses the critical requirements of this study.

To achieve the low resistivity and high electrochemical stability demonstrated in this paper, researchers require high-quality, heavily doped diamond.

  • Heavy Boron-Doped Diamond (BDD) Wafers/Plates: 6CCVD offers BDD material with customizable doping levels, easily achieving the 1000 ppm concentration cited in the study. Our BDD is ideal for electrochemistry due to its wide potential window and resistance to fouling.
  • Polycrystalline Diamond (PCD) Substrates: For large-scale sensor arrays or industrial applications, 6CCVD can supply PCD wafers up to 125 mm in diameter, allowing for high-throughput manufacturing of similar sensors.

The success of this BDD electrode relies on precise dimensions and surface finish. 6CCVD’s advanced manufacturing capabilities ensure exact material matching:

Research Requirement6CCVD CapabilityBenefit to Client
Specific Resistivity (0.075 Ωm)Precise MPCVD Boron Doping ControlGuaranteed electrical properties for optimal charge transfer kinetics.
Small Diameter (3 mm)Precision Laser Cutting & DicingSupply of custom plates/wafers cut to exact dimensions for integration into PTFE or custom electrode bodies.
High Surface Quality (Polishing)Ultra-Smooth Polishing (Ra < 5 nm for PCD)Ensures a stable, reproducible surface, minimizing background current and maximizing signal integrity, critical for DPV.
Modified Electrode ComparisonCustom Metalization ServicesWhile the paper used a bare electrode, 6CCVD offers internal metalization (Au, Pt, Ti, W) for researchers looking to extend the work to modified electrodes (e.g., for stripping analysis of heavy metals).

The determination of biologically active compounds like Ascorbic Acid is a rapidly growing field in electroanalytical chemistry. 6CCVD’s in-house PhD team specializes in material science and electrochemical applications. We can assist researchers with:

  • Material Selection: Advising on the optimal BDD thickness (0.1 ”m to 500 ”m) and doping profile for specific Voltammetric Sensing projects.
  • Surface Termination: Consulting on surface treatments (e.g., hydrogen or oxygen termination) to further enhance selectivity or sensitivity for specific analytes.
  • Scaling and Integration: Providing engineering guidance for integrating custom-sized BDD plates into microfluidic or high-density sensor arrays.

For custom specifications or material consultation, visit 6ccvd.com or contact our engineering team directly. We ship globally (DDU default, DDP available) to support your research wherever you are located.

View Original Abstract

An unmodified boron-doped diamond electrode was used for the voltammetric determination of ascorbic acid (AA). The measurements were carried out in an acetate buffer solution of pH = 4.6 by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Under the optimized experimental conditions, AA gaves linear response in a broad concentration range from 5 · 10-7 to 2· 10-3 mol/dm3. The detection limit was 1.63 · 10-7 mol/dm3. The proposed procedure was applied for simple and fast voltammetric determination of ascorbic acid in human urine samples and commercially available dietary supplements.