Tellurium-nanowire-coated glassy carbon electrodes for selective and sensitive detection of dopamine

Tellurium-nanowire-coated glassy carbon electrodes (TNGCEs) have been fabricated and employed for selective and sensitive detection of dopamine (DA). TNGCEs were prepared by direct deposition of tellurium nanowires, 600±150nm in length and 16±3nm in diameter, onto glassy carbon electrodes, which were further coated with Nafion to improve their selectivity and stability. Compared to the GCE, the TNGCE is more electroactive (by approximately 1.9-fold) for DA, and its selectivity toward DA over ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) is also greater. By applying differential pulse voltammetry, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, the TNGCE provides a limit of detection of 1nM for DA in the presence of 0.5mM AA and UA. Linearity (R ²=0.9955) of the oxidation current at 0.19V against the concentration of DA is found over the range 5nM-1μM. TNGCEs have been applied to determine the concentration of dopamine to be 0.59±0.07μM in PC12 cells.