An in situ copper plated boron-doped diamond microelectrode array for the sensitive electrochemical detection of nitrate

The first example of using a copper microelectrode array for use in electroanalysis is explored and exemplified with the electroanalytical quantification of nitrate. The analytical approach is based upon the in situ deposition of copper at a boron-doped diamond (BDD) microelectrode array. The immobilized copper layer is electrocatalytic for nitrate reduction and exhibits an analytically useful range front 1.2 to 124 mu M with a marked selectivity for nitrate ion over nitrate, with a limit of detection of 0.76 mu M. The analytical applicability was examined through standard addition determinations of nitrate in drinking and river water samples.