A highly sensitive dopamine sensor based on a polyaniline/reduced graphene oxide/Nafion nanocomposite

A nanocomposite of polyaniline/reduced graphene oxide (PANI-rGO) was synthesized using a hydrothermal method. The product was characterized by FT-IR, Raman spectra, XRD, SEM and TEM. Then the hybrid material of PANI-rGO and Nafion (PANI-rGO-NF) was prepared and used to modify glassy carbon electrode for the trace determination of dopamine (DA) employing differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). It was found that the hybrid material showed good catalytic activity toward the oxidation of DA, and no response to ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) was observed, suggesting a high selectivity of the sensor toward DA. The peak currents were linearly correlated with the concentration of DA in the range from 0.05   μmol/L to 60.0   μmol/L (R   =   0.996) and 60.0   μmol/L to 180.0   μmol/L (R   =   0.996) with a detection limit of 0.024   μmol/L (S/N   =   3). The modified electrode also exhibited excellent repeatability and stability.