Template-assisted self-assembly method to prepare three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide for dopamine sensing

• Three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide (3D-rGO) with open pore structure was successfully prepared.
• This method to prepare 3D-rGO is more simple than those have been reported.
• 3D-rGO was evidenced to enhance the sensing properties toward dopamine compared with rGO and PVP-rGO.
• 3D-rGO could be effectively used for selective detection of dopamine.

Three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide (3D-rGO) materials have been successfully prepared by a template-assisted self-assembly method using polystyrene spheres (PSs) as sacrificial templates. PSs-rGO hybrids were prepared by self-assembly of PSs and GO through the π–π interaction, followed by reduction of such hybrids using hydrazine as reducing agent. 3D-rGO materials were obtained after removal of PSs in PSs-rGO hybrids by toluene. The combined characterizations of field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicate the successful preparation of 3D-rGO materials. More importantly, 3D-rGO materials thus obtained exhibit good sensing performances for electrochemical detection of dopamine (DA), leading to a high-performance DA sensor. The DA sensor based on 3D-rGO materials has been evidenced to exhibit a better sensing performances than that of rGO and poly-(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP)-stabilizing rGO. Furthermore, differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) indicates that the 3D-rGO-based DA sensor could be effectively used for DA sensing in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA), indicating high selectivity of the DA sensor based on 3D-rGO materials.

Three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide (3D-rGO) materials have been successfully prepared by a template-assisted self-assembly method using polystyrene spheres (PSs) as sacrificial templates. 3D-rGO materials thus obtained exhibit good sensing performance for electrochemical detection of dopamine (DA), leading to a high-performance DA sensor.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide