Au nanoparticles attached Ag@C core-shell nanocomposites for highly selective electrochemical detection of dopamine

Abstract

Herein, a simple electrochemical sensor for dopamine (DA) detection was developed based on Ag@C core-shell structure and Au nanocomposites (Ag@C/Au). The Ag@C core-shell nanoparticles were synthesized by one-pot hydrothermal method, which were supported on Au nanoparticles in situ reduction process. The as-prepared nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV–vis absorption spectra. The electrochemical investigations indicated that Ag@C/Au nanocomposites possessed intriguing properties towards DA. These results could be attributed to the synergistic effect of Ag@C with enhanced substrate accessibility and conductivity, Au nanoparticles with surface of negative charges. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the liner range was 0.5 μM to 27.5 μM, 27.5 μM to 0.2775 mM and 0.2775 mM to 4.278 mM. The detection limit was 0.21 μM (S/N = 3). Furthermore, the electrochemical sensor showed favorable selectivity in the presence of interferents such as ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA). In general, the work could provide a promising possibility to develop excellent electrochemical sensors for DA detection.