Modified platinum electrode with phytic acid and single-walled carbon nanotube: Application to the selective determination of dopamine in the presence of ascorbic and uric acids

A platinum (Pt) electrode modified by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and phytic acid (PA) was investigated by voltammetric methods in buffer solution. The PA-SWNTs/Pt-modified electrode demonstrated substantial enhancements in electrochemical sensitivity and selectivity towards dopamine (DA) in the presence of L-ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA). The PA-SWNTs films promoted the electron transfer reaction of DA, while the PA film, acting as a negatively charged linker, combined with the positively charged DA to induced DA accumulation in the film at pH under 7.4. However, the PA film restrained the electrochemical response of the negatively charged AA due to the electrostatic repulsion. The anodic peak potentials of DA, AA and UA could be separated by electrochemical techniques, and the interferences from AA and UA were effectively eliminated in the DA determination. Linear calibration plots were obtained in the DA concentration range of 0.2–10 μM and the detection limit of the DA oxidation current was determined to be 0.08 μM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The results indicated that the modified electrode can be used to determine DA without interference from AA and UA, while ensuring good sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility.