Highly sensitive and selective electrochemical determination of dopamine and ascorbic acid at Ag/Ag₂S modified electrode

A biosensor electrode possessing highly sensitive and selective determination of dopamine (DA) is fabricated. This electrode, a silver (Ag) thin film on indium-tin-oxide glass, is treated with a silver sulfide (Ag ₂S) film using electrochemical deposition. Active Ag ion is easier to form on Ag₂S than on pristine Ag, which prefers to attract ascorbic acid (AA). The Ag₂S layer reduces the oxidation potential of AA due to the electrostatic interaction, which results in well-separation of mixed oxidation responses to both of DA and AA. Besides, the Ag₂S-modified electrode exhibits dramatic electrocatalytic effect on the oxidation of DA in the presence of AA. In 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution at pH ∼ 7.0, the differential pulse voltammetric peak intensity linearly correlates with DA concentration in two regions, viz. 1.0-10, and 10-100 μM, with correlation coefficient of 0.998 and 0.995, respectively. The lowest concentration limit of 1.0 μM DA can be detected. The interference of AA effectively diminishes in the mixed solution. These features make the Ag₂S significant for selective and sensitive measurement of DA in the presence of excess AA.