Electrochemical Techniques for Vitamin Detection and Analysis

Electrochemical methods have emerged as powerful tools for the sensitive, rapid and cost-effective detection of vitamins in diverse matrices such as foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and biological fluids. By monitoring current or potential changes associated with redox reactions of vitamin molecules at an electrode surface, these approaches enable quantification down to micromolar or even nanomolar levels. Common configurations include voltammetric techniques—where potential sweeps or pulses reveal characteristic oxidation or reduction peaks—and impedance-based measurements that probe interfacial charge-transfer kinetics. Performance is further enhanced through the modification of electrode surfaces with materials such as metal nanoparticles, carbon nanostructures, conductive polymers or composite architectures. Such electrocatalytic layers promote rapid electron transfer, amplify analytical signals and improve selectivity against interfering species. Advances in electrode fabrication, including screen-printing and electropolymerisation, support miniaturised, portable devices suitable for point-of-care testing and in situ monitoring. These innovations bear global significance for nutritional assessment, public health surveillance and quality control, offering real-time feedback and low reagent consumption. While challenges remain in standardising calibration protocols and mitigating matrix effects, electrochemical vitamin sensing continues to bridge laboratory research and practical applications, laying the groundwork for next-generation wearable and automated platforms.

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Electrochemical Techniques for Vitamin Detection and Analysis publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in electrochemical techniques for vitamin detection and analysis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Cyclic voltammetry: A technique in which the potential of the working electrode is swept linearly back and forth while the resulting current is recorded, revealing redox processes of the analyte.

Differential pulse voltammetry: A voltammetric method that superimposes small potential pulses onto a linear sweep, improving sensitivity by measuring current differences before and after each pulse.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy: A frequency-domain method that applies a small alternating potential to probe resistance and capacitance at the electrode interface, informing on charge-transfer and diffusion processes.

Electropolymerisation: The electrochemical formation of a polymer film on an electrode surface, often used to immobilise sensing elements or enhance selectivity.

Limit of detection: The lowest concentration of an analyte that can be reliably distinguished from background noise, often defined at a signal-to-noise ratio of three.

References

1. The Effect of Rare-Earth Elements on the Morphological Aspect of Borate and Electrocatalytic Sensing of Biological Compounds. Biosensors (2023).
2. Electrochemical determination of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) by reformed carbon paste electrode with iron oxide nanoparticles. Ionics (2022).
3. Sensitive and selective determination of vitamin B2 in non-alcoholic beverage and milk samples at poly (glutamic acid)/zinc oxide nanoparticles modified carbon paste electrode. BMC Chemistry (2022).