Electrochemical mechanism of eugenol at a Cu doped gold nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode and its analytical application in food samples

•One-step construction of the Cu@AuNPs/GCE electrode.•The modified electrode showed high sensitivity for the analysis of eugenol.•Electrochemical mechanism of eugenol by use of Cu@AuNPs/GCE was inferred.•The novel method was successfully employed for analysis of eugenol in food samples.

A simple one-step electrodeposition method was used to construct a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), which has been modified with Cu doped gold nanoparticles (GNPs), i.e. a Cu@AuNPs/GCE. This electrode was characterized with the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The eugenol was electrocatalytically oxidized at the Cu@AuNPs/GCE. At this electrode, in comparison with the behavior at the GCE alone, the corresponding oxidation peak current was enhanced and the shift of the oxidation potentials to lower values was observed. Electrochemical behavior of eugenol at the Cu@AuNPs/GCE was investigated with the use of the cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique, and additionally, in order to confirm the electrochemical reaction mechanism for o-methoxy phenols, CVs for catechol, guaiacol and vanillin were investigated consecutively. Based on this work, an electrochemical reaction mechanism for o-methoxy phenols was suggested, and in addition, the above Cu@AuNPs/GCE was successfully employed for the analysis of eugenol in food samples.

Graphical abstractA simple one-step electrodeposition method was used to fabricate a Cu doped gold nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode. An electrochemical reaction mechanism for o-methoxy phenols was suggested. In addition, the above Cu@AuNPs/GCE was successfully employed for the analysis of eugenol in food samples.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide