Sustainable Laser‐Induced Graphene Electrochemical Sensors from Natural Cork for Sensitive Tyrosine Detection

Abstract

Cork laser induced graphene (cork‐LIG) electrochemical sensors are fabricated by direct laser writing of natural cork sheets. Laser writing is performed with a hobbyist visible laser. The obtained cork‐LIG structures display graphene‐like Raman signatures, high conductivity, and fast electron‐transfer rates. After a 10 min electrochemical pretreatment, electrodes are used for detection of Tyrosine (Tyr) in the presence of uric acid, dopamine, ascorbic acid, urea, and glucose. linear detection of tyrosine is achieved in the 5–150 µm range with a limit of detection (LOD) of 3.03 µm. Calibration of dopamine detection is achieved with a LOD of 1.1 µm. Finally, the cork‐LIG electrochemical sensors show linear response of Tyr in artificial sweat in the relevant physiological range of 5–250 μm (sensitivity, 1.8×10−2 A m−1). The LOD is calculated as 3.75 μm. These results open the door to the exploitation of renewable materials such as cork for the development of high‐quality, green sensors for the monitoring of health and wellbeing parameters.

Transforming wastes into functional materials: natural cork-based physical structural components and polymers

“…LIG formation entails irradiating the substrate with a high-power-density laser source, leading to transient carbonization with protective plasma. gLIG derived from natural and agglomerated cork has emerged as an intriguing material for cork-based electronics and wearable applications 125,126 (Fig. 12a).…”

Amperometric Inkjet-Printed Thyroxine Sensor Based on Customized Graphene and Tunned Cyclodextrins as the Preconcentration Element

“…To solve these disadvantages, electrochemistry has emerged as an alternative strategy for the development of updated analytical methodologies to be implemented in point-of-care (POC) devices. Electrochemical techniques can serve as useful tools for the detection of not just the analyte of interest, but also some of the precursor species such as phenylalanine [ 8 ] or tyrosine [ 9 , 10 ]. Whilst they are chemically similar to the target of interest, they are not correlated directly with the disorders mentioned.…”