Electropolymerization of poly(phenol red) on laser-induced graphene electrode enhanced adsorption of zinc for electrochemical detection

We present a highly sensitive and selective electrode of laser-induced graphene modified with poly(phenol red) (P(PhR)@LIG) for measuring zinc nutrition in rice grains using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). The physicochemical properties of P(PhR)@LIG were investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy. The modified electrode demonstrated an amplified anodic stripping response of Zn2+ due to the electropolymerization of P(PhR), which enhanced analyte adsorption during the accumulation step of SWASV. Under optimized parameters, the developed sensor provided a linear range from 30 to 3000 μg L−1 with a detection limit of 14.5 μg L−1. The proposed electrode demonstrated good reproducibility and good anti-interference properties. The sensor detected zinc nutrition in rice grain samples with good accuracy and the results were consistent with the standard ICP-OES method. [Display omitted] •A portable sensor for detecting zinc nutrition in rice grains was developed.•Polyphenol red was electropolymerized on a laser-induced graphene electrode.•Polyphenol red enhanced the adsorption of Zn2+ on the electrode.•The sensor showed good performances for the electrochemical detection of Zn2+.