Chapter 11: Electroanalysis of Vitamins Using Carbon Sensors

Vitamins are a group of organic compounds that play a crucial role in the proper functioning of living organisms. While some vitamins are synthesized within living organisms, others must be acquired through the diet to fulfill the needs of the organism, hence classifying them as essential compounds. Insufficient levels or deficiencies of vitamins in the human body can lead to the onset of metabolic disorders. Therefore, it is essential to ensure adequate daily intake of vitamins through diet or supplements and to regularly monitor their levels. It is widely recognized that nearly all vitamins exhibit electrochemical activity. By leveraging the electrochemical reduction or oxidation of vitamins in an electrolyte, electrochemical sensors can determine the concentration of vitamins through current measurement at the working electrode. An emerging trend in the development of electrochemical sensors is the integration of carbon-based nanomaterials, such as graphene and its derivatives, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and graphitic carbon nitride (GCN or g-C₃N₄), with working electrodes. Carbon nanomaterials exhibit significant potential in electrochemical sensing technology owing to their distinctive electrical, thermal, optical, chemical, and mechanical characteristics. This chapter reviews research advancements from the past decade in carbon nanomaterial-based electrochemical sensors for detecting both water- and fat-soluble vitamins. Additionally, the chapter addresses the challenges and future prospects associated with carbon nanomaterial-based electrochemical sensors in this field.