A glassy carbon electrode modified with graphene and poly(acridine red) for sensing uric acid

The surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified by electropolymerization of acridine red followed by drop-coating of graphene. The morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Uric acid (UA) is effectively accumulated on the surface of the modified electrode and generates a sensitive anodic peak in solutions of pH 6.5. Differential pulse voltammetry was used to evaluate the electrochemical response of the modified GCE to UA. Compared to the bare GCE, the GCE modified with acridine red, and to the graphene modified electrode, the new GCE displays high electrochemical activity in giving an oxidation peak current that is proportional to the concentration of UA in the range from 0.8 to 150 μM, with a detection limit of 0.3 μM (at an S/N of 3). The modified electrode displays excellent selectivity, sensitivity, and a wide linear range. It has been applied to the determination of UA in real samples with satisfactory results.