Disposable Printed Electrode Made with Chinese Shellac and Carbon Black for Melatonin Detection

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) offer advantages like low cost, miniaturization, and disposability.
• SPEs are increasingly utilized in medical and pharmaceutical applications due to their versatility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel electrochemical sensor for melatonin detection using screen-printing technology.
• To characterize the performance and applicability of the developed sensor.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of SPEs using a new conductive ink (carbon black, Chinese shellac, acetone).
• Material characterization via SEM, FTIR, XRD, TGA, and contact angle measurements.
• Electrochemical characterization using cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy; Melatonin detection via differential pulse voltammetry.

Main Results:

• The conductive ink proved suitable for manufacturing printed electrodes.
• The sensor demonstrated a linear detection range for melatonin from 1.0 to 100 μmol L⁻¹ with a limit of detection of 0.1 μmol L⁻¹.
• Successful application in synthetic urine samples with recovery rates between 86.7% and 110%.

Conclusions:

• The developed screen-printed electrochemical sensor is a promising device for melatonin detection.
• The novel conductive ink formulation is effective for fabricating functional SPEs.
• This technology holds potential for practical applications in biological and pharmaceutical analysis.