A Simple Electrochemical Sensor Based on Graphene Nanoplatelets Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode (GrNPs/GCE) for Highly Sensitive Detection of Yohimbine (YOH)

A simple electrochemical sensor to detect yohimbine (YOH) was developed based on graphene nanoplatelets (GrNPs) modified glassy carbon electrode (GrNPs/GCE) to improve the sensitivity. GrNPs/GCE was used as an adsorbent and a working electrode in the adsorptive anodic stripping voltammetry (AdASV) for YOH detection. GrNPs/GCE can bind to YOH molecule via the π-π interaction. The surface morphology and electrochemical behavior of the GrNPs/GCE was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and AdASV. Under the optimized conditions, the GrNPs/GCE exhibited excellent adsorption and electrochemical detection of YOH with two linear ranges of 0.2 – 5.0 μmol L −1 and 5.0 – 30.0 μmol L −1 , a detection limit of 0.07 μmol L −1 , and a quantitation limit of 0.25 μmol L −1 . The GrNPs/GCE provided good repeatability, with relative standard deviation (RSD) values ranging from 4.4 – 5.4%. This method was applied to investigate YOH contamination in beverage samples and had good recovery (96 ± 2% to 105 ± 2%).