Real-time Selective Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide Based on a Tantalum Deposited Pencil Lead Electrode for Evaluation of Enzyme Activities

In this study, we have carried out electrodeposition of tantalum (Ta) nanostructures on pencil lead electrode in non-aqueous media at room temperature by applying a constant potential. The deposited Ta on pencil lead was examined for the catalytic effect regarding hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) reduction with voltammetry and amperometry. Ta/pencil lead electrode exhibited amperometric sensitivity of 0.317 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻² and fast response time of 0.75 s, where selective detection of H₂O₂ was fulfilled without interruption from common electroactive biomaterials such as O₂, uric acid, ascorbic acid, dopamine, acetamidophenol, and glucose. For practical applications, the dynamic concentration changes of H₂O₂ during catalase and glucose oxidase-involved reactions, either eliminating or producing H₂O₂, were successfully traced in real time with as-prepared electrode. From the kinetics study for catalase and glucose oxidase, we evaluated Michaelis constants (K_m ^app) as 7.8 mM for catalase and 37 mM for glucose oxidase, respectively.