Electrochemical detection of l-cysteine using a boron-doped carbon nanotube-modified electrode

A boron-doped carbon nanotube (BCNT)-modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode was constructed for the detection of l-cysteine (L-CySH). The electrochemical behavior of BCNTs in response to l-cysteine oxidation was investigated. The response current of L-CySH oxidation at the BCNT/GC electrode was obviously higher than that at the bare GC electrode or the CNT/GC electrode. This finding may be ascribed to the excellent electrochemical properties of the BCNT/GC electrode. Moreover, on the basis of this finding, a determination of L-CySH at the BCNT/GC electrode was carried out. The effects of pH, scan rate and interferents on the response of L-CySH oxidation were investigated. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the detection response for L-CySH on the BCNT/GC electrode was fast (within 7 s). It was found to be linear from 7.8 × 10−7 to 2 × 10−4 M (r = 0.998), with a high sensitivity of 25.3 ± 1.2 nA mM−1 and a low detection limit of 0.26 ± 0.01 μM. The BCNT/GC electrode exhibited high stability and good resistance against interference by other oxidizable amino acids (tryptophan and tyrosine).