Highly sensitive and selective dopamine sensor uses three-dimensional cobalt phosphide nanowire array.

The detection of dopamine is essential for the treatment and diagnosis of depression and other diseases. In this work, cobalt phosphide nanowire arrays grown on titanium mesh (CoP NWAs/TM) are prepared by two steps of hydrothermal and phosphating, and firstly used for the detection of dopamine. The electrochemical behavior of the CoP NWAs/TM was evaluated by amperometry and differential pulse voltammetry. Amperometric analysis reveals admirable parameters in neutral PBS: (a) a working potential of 0.30 V; (b) a wide linear range (1 μM ~ 3 mM); (c) a high sensitivity (3366 μA·mM⁻¹·cm⁻²); (d) a low detection limit (3.56 × 10^–4 mM). Moreover, the interference effect of the common interfering species and the stability were investigated. Further experiments show that the sensor could be successfully used to detect dopamine in human blood serum. Highly sensitive and selective dopamine sensor uses three-dimensional cobalt phosphide nanowire array, which is the first experiment to apply Co-based transition metal phosphides for dopamine detection. The sensor based on cobalt phosphide nanowire array-electrode could be successfully used to detect dopamine in human blood serum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]