A graphene sample (EGr) was prepared by electrochemical exfoliation of graphite rods in solution containing 0.05 M (NH4)2SO4 + 0.1 M H3BO3 + 0.05 M NaCl. The exfoliation was performed by applying a constant voltage (12 V) between the graphite rods, while the temperature was kept constant (18 °C) with a temperature-controlled cryostat. The structural investigation of the graphene sample, performed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), revealed that the sample consists of a mixture of few-layer (69%), multi-layer graphene (14%) and graphene oxide (17%). In addition, XPS analysis proved that the sample was triple-doped with heteroatoms such as nitrogen (1.7 at%), sulfur (2.5 at%), and boron (3 at%). The sample was deposited onto the surface of a clean, glassy carbon electrode (GC) and investigated for the non-enzymatic electrochemical detection of L-tryptophan (TRP). The electrocatalytic properties of the EGr/GC electrode led to a considerable decrease in the oxidation potential from +0.9 V (bare GC) to +0.72 V. In addition, the EGr/GC electrode has higher sensitivity (two times) and a lower detection limit (ten times) in comparison with the bare GC electrode.
Keywords: doped graphene; electrochemical exfoliation; enhanced detection; heteroatoms.