Amperometric determination of ascorbic acid on screen-printing ruthenium dioxide electrode

Ruthenium oxide (RuO2) is commonly used in resistive pastes for screen printing. The electrochemical properties of a screen-printing planar RuO2 electrode have hardly been studied. In this communication, planar electrochemical sensors with a RuO2 working electrode, an Ag|AgCl reference electrode and a RuO2 counter electrode are fabricated by screen printing. The electro-oxidation of ascorbic acid, uric acid, and hydrogen peroxide on these RuO2 electrodes is investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry. Compared to uric acid and hydrogen peroxide, ascorbic acid can be easily oxidized at the low operating potential (<150 mV versus Ag|AgCl). The amperometric measurement of ascorbic acid at 100 mV on a RuO2 electrode shows fast response and good linearity in the 0¯4 mM range. Meanwhile, the electrochemical interference from uric acid and hydrogen peroxide at this potential is very small.