Application of PEDOT‐CNT Microelectrodes for Neurotransmitter Sensing

In this work, composite microelectrodes from poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) are characterized as electrochemical sensing material for neurotransmitters. Dopamine can be detected using square wave voltammetry at these microelectrodes. The CNTs improve the sensitivity by a factor of two. In addition, the selectivity towards dopamine in the presence of ascorbic acid and uric acid was examined. While both electrodes, PEDOT and PEDOT‐CNT are able to detect all measured concentrations of dopamine in the presence of uric acid, small concentrations of dopamine and ascorbic acid are only distinguishable at PEDOT‐CNT electrodes. Changing the pH has a strong influence on the selectivity. Moreover, it is possible to detect concentrations as low as 1 µM dopamine in complex cell culture medium. Finally, other catecholamines like serotonin, epinephrine, norepinephrine and L ‐dopa are also electrochemically detectable at PEDOT‐CNT microelectrodes.