Electrochemical determination of dopamine using a glassy carbon electrode modified with a nanocomposite consisting of nanoporous platinum-yttrium and graphene.

A nanoporous platinum-yttrium alloy (NP-PtY) was fabricated by dealloying ribbons of a PtYAl alloy. Owing to the high porosity and the synergistic effect of Y in the Pt backbone, the NP-PtY exhibits superior structural stability, reproducibility and electrocatalytic activity. An electrochemical sensor was developed for the highly sensitive and selective detection of dopamine (DA) based on the use of a glassy carbon electrode modified with NP-PtY alloy and graphene. The sensor, best operated at 0.16 V vs. SCE, has a linear range covering the 0.9 to 82 μM concentration range, a 0.36 μM detection limit (at S/N = 3), and good selectivity over tyramine, tryptamine, phenethylamine, uric acid, and ascorbic acid. It gave satisfactory results in the determination of DA in spiked samples of urine. Graphical abstract Nanoporous platinum-yttrium alloy (NP-PtY) was fabricated by means of a one-step dealloying process. A glassy carbon electrode modified with the NP-PtY and graphene nanocomposite exhibits a wide linear range and a low detection limit towards dopamine. The sensor has remarkable reproducibility, stability and selectivity.