Electrochemical behavior of epinephrine at l-cysteine self-assembled monolayers modified gold electrode.

The electrochemical behaviors of epinephrine (EP) at the l-cysteine self-assembled monolayers modified gold electrode have been studied. The modified electrode shows an excellent electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of EP and accelerates electron transfer rate. The diffusion coefficient (D) is 1.48x10(-7) cm(2) s(-1). FTIR has shown that cysteine can bind onto the gold surface through the strong sulfur-gold interaction. The electrocatalytic mechanism to EP has been studied. The catalytic current of EP nu s its concentration has a good linear relation in the range of 1.0x10(-7)-2.0x10(-6) mol l(-1), with the correlation coefficient of 0.9989 by differential pulse voltametric (DPV) response. Detection limit is down to 1.0x10(-8) mol l(-1). At a high EP concentration, the relationship between the catalytic current and its concentration exhibits a Michaelis-Menten kinetic mechanism for the electrocatalytic process and the constant K(m) is about 0.155 mmol l(-1). The highest catalytic current I(m) is 2.72 muA. The modified electrode can be used for the determination of EP in practical injection. The method is simple, quick, sensitive and accurate.