High-performance electrochemical sensor based on electrodeposited iron oxide nanoparticle: catecholamine as analytical probe

In this paper, we report the synthesis and electrocatalytic activity of electrodeposited Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles modified on a glassy carbon electrode as highly sensitive sensors for determination of catecholamines. Results showed that the Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles on a glassy carbon electrode exhibit excellent catalytic activity toward catecholamines oxidation, including levodopa, dopamine, and epinephrine, resulting in a marked lowering in the peak potential and considerable improvement of the peak current as compared to the electrochemical activity at the bare glassy carbon electrode. The electrochemical characterizations of catecholamines were performed using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and differential pulse voltammetry techniques. The electrocatalytic currents increase linearly with the levodopa, dopamine, and epinephrine concentrations in the ranges of 0.0625–1000, 0.25–1500, and 0.125–1000 µM, respectively, and the detection limits (3σ) were 24 ± 2, 14 ± 2, and 12 ± 2 nM, respectively.