測定対象の多様化に向けたスパッタナノカーボン薄膜電極の開発

Development of Sputtered Nanocarbon Film-based Electrodes with Extended Analyte Zones

電気化学検出法は，分子の酸化還元反応の際に流れる電流や電極界面の電位を測定することで，対象物質を検出する手法である。簡便・安価な検出手法として期待される一方，測定できる電位範囲が狭く微量物質の検出も困難であることから，測定対象となる物質が限られる点が課題とされてきた。本研究において我々は，従来電極では検出できなかった全核酸塩基などの生体分子，ビタミンEなどの脂溶性抗酸化物質，ヒ素イオンなどをきわめて高感度かつ再現性良く測定できる「スパッタナノカーボン薄膜電極」の開発を行った。本電極は，ナノカーボン薄膜材料の精緻な設計によって，電気化学法の適用範囲が拡大されたものであり，飲料・食品・環境・生体といった多くの分野における実用化が期待される。

Electrochemical measurement methods are a way to detect analytes by measuring the current or potential on an electrode interface during a redox reaction. The electrochemical method is expected to be an easy and inexpensive way to test water quality. However, substances which can be detected by the methods at conventional electrode materials have been limited due to the narrow measurable potential range and insufficient sensitivity for trace substances. We have successfully developed “sputtered nanocarbon film-based electrodes” that enabled the detection of (bio) molecules such as nucleic-acid bases, antioxidants such as vitamin E, and arsenic ion. These analytes are difficult to measure with the conventional electrodes with high sensitivity and good reproducibility. Our study has expanded the possibility of the use of electrochemical methods and is expected to be applied to many practical measurement devices. These could find application in various fields such as drinks, foods, environmental and biochemical substances. The new electrode attracts attention as a possible candidate for standardization of quantitation methods for the substances which are difficult to detect at conventional electrodes.

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