Fabrication of ultra-sensitive and selective dopamine electrochemical sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymer modified graphene@carbon nanotube foam

•Graphene@carbon nanotube foam combined with MIP as a novel supportless sensor•Modification of MIP was confirmed and its key role in sensing target was studied.•The 3D free-standing electrode proves its outstanding performance in dopamine assay.•Ultralow detection limit and wide range were achieved with the hybrid sensor.

A new type of three-dimensional (3D) electrochemical sensor was prepared by combining carbon nanotubes on graphene foam (GF/CNT) with molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP), which affords simultaneous identification and quantification towards target compound. The hybrid sensor shows ultralow detection limit of 6.67 × 10− 16 M (S/N = 3), wide range of 2 × 10− 15 M to 1 × 10− 12 M, and superb selectivity for dopamine (DA) detection.

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