A novel electrochemical sensor based on carbon nanotubes array for selective detection of dopamine or uric acid

Abstract

A novel single-walled carbon nanotubes array-modified glassy carbon electrode (SWCNTs array-GCE) has been fabricated through a simple electrochemical technique. Benefitting from their vertically aligned configuration on the electrode surface, the modified single-walled carbon nanotubes can be used more efficiently in comparison with other modified method. The as-fabricated SWCNTs array-GCE can separate the anodic oxidation potential of dopamine (DA), uric acid (UA) and ascorbic acid (AA) with well-defined peak separation in the presence of each other, and thus employs as a new electrochemical sensor for selective determination of DA and UA. It can make a further improvement of the electrocatalytic ability of the electrode to perform an acetone pretreatment to SWCNTs array-GCE before electrochemical detection, which has been confirmed by atomic force microscope and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic measurements. Especially, unlike other carbon nanotubes-based electrode at which only two redox pairs are observed for dopamine oxidations, a third two-electron oxidation of 5,6-dihydroxyindole to indole-5,6-quinone can be clearly observed at acetone-pretreated SWCNTs array-GCE, showing the excellent electrocatalytic performance of as-fabricated electrode toward dopamine. The practicability of SWCNTs array-GCE was evaluated for the selective detection of DA and UA in real sample solutions of human serum and urine. It revealed acceptable recovery results in the range of 94–104%, indicating that it might be a promising platform for further biosensor development.