Analytical Sciences

Manganese Dioxide Graphite Composite Electrodes: Application to the Electroanalysis of Hydrogen Peroxide, Ascorbic Acid and Nitrite

Cathryn E. LANGLEY,* Biljana ŠLJUKIC,* Craig E. BANKS,** and Richard G. COMPTON*

*Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QZ, United Kingdom
**Now at Chemistry, School of Biomedical and Natural Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane, Clifton, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, United Kingdom

The modification of carbon powder with manganese dioxide using a wet impregnation procedure with electrochemical characterisation of the modified powder is described. The process involves saturation of the carbon powder with manganese(II) nitrate followed by thermal treatment at ca. 773 K leading to formation of manganese(IV) oxide on the surface of the carbon powder. The construction of composite electrodes based on manganese dioxide modified carbon powder and epoxy resin is also described, including optimisation of the percentage of the modified carbon powder. Composite electrodes showed attractive performances for electroanalytical applications, proving to be suitable for the electrochemical detection of hydrogen peroxide, ascorbic acid and nitrite ions with limits of detection comparable to the detection limits achieved by other analytical techniques. The results obtained for detection of these analytes, together with composite electrodes flexible design and low cost offers potential application of composite electrodes in biosensors.

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