Cerium-based metal–organic framework as an electrocatalyst for the reductive detection of dopamine

Thin films of a chemically stable and electrochemically active cerium(IV)-based metal–organic framework (MOF), Ce-MOF-808, are capable of electrocatalyzing the reduction of dopaquinone (DAQ) generated by the electrochemical pre-oxidation of dopamine (DA) present in 3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid buffer solutions. As the first study reporting the use of pristine cerium-based MOFs in electrochemical DA detection, the stability of the MOF during electrochemical operations, optimized thin-film loading, and the electrocatalytic mechanism are investigated. By utilizing the cathodic Faradaic responses for the reduction of the electrochemically pre-generated DAQ as a probe to detect DA in the electrolyte, the interference signals from the commonly coexisting ascorbic acid and uric acid can be effectively reduced.