Flexible sensor for dopamine detection fabricated by the direct growth of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles on carbon cloth

Abstract Porous α-Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles are directly grown on acid treated carbon cloth (ACC) using a simple hydrothermal method (denoted as ACC-α-Fe 2 O 3 ) for employment as a flexible and wearable electrochemical electrode. The catalytic activity of ACC-α-Fe 2 O 3 allowing the detection of dopamine (DA) is systematically investigated. The results showed that the ACC-α-Fe 2 O 3 electrode exhibits impressive electrochemical sensitivity, stability and selectivity for the detection of DA. The detection limit determined with the amperometric method appears to be around 50 nM with a linear range of 0.074–113 μM. The impressive DA sensing ability of the as prepared ACC-α-Fe 2 O 3 electrode is due to the good electrochemical behavior and high electroactive surface area (19.96 cm 2 ) of α-Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles anchored on the highly conductive ACC. It is worth noting that such remarkable sensing properties can be maintained even when the electrode is in a folded configuration.