Nanomolar detection of dopamine at multi-walled carbon nanotube grafted silica network/gold nanoparticle functionalised nanocomposite electrodes

This is the first report on ultrahigh sensitive and selective electrochemical detection of nanomolar concentrations of dopamine (DA) in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA) at a modified electrode fabricated with a new functional nanocomposite, comprising of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) grafted silica network (silica NW) and gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) (MWNT-g-silica NW/Au NPs). The fabrication of MWNT-g-silica NW/Au NPs modified electrodes involves two steps: covalent functionaliztion of MWNT with silica NW and deposition of Au NP. Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry experiments were performed for the individual and simultaneous electrochemical detection of DA (in nanomolar concentrations) and AA. Differential pulse voltammograms at ITO/MWNT-g-silica NW/Au NPs modified electrode (ME) revealed that the current response is linear for DA in the concentration range of 0.1 nM-30 nM with a detection limit of 0.1 nM. This is the lowest detection limit reported for DA. A plausible mechanism is presented for the excellent performance of ITO/MWNT-g-silica NW/Au NPs-ME towards nanomolar detection of DA. The results revealed that MWNT, silica NW and Au NPs in ITO/MWNT-g-silica NW/Au NPs-ME synergistically contribute to the ultrasensitivity and selectivity for the electrochemical detection of nanomolar concentrations of DA in the presence of coexisting species.