Detection of neurochemicals with enhanced sensitivity and selectivity via hybrid multiwall carbon nanotube-ultrananocrystalline diamond microelectrodes
By Tan, Chao; Dutta, Gaurab; Yin, Haocheng; Siddiqui, Shabnam; Arumugam, Prabhu U.
Published in Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical
2018
Abstract
Abnormal neurochemical signaling is often the underlying cause of brain disorders. Electrochemical microsensors are widely used to monitor neurochemicals with high spatial-temporal resolution. However, they rely on carbon fiber microelectrodes that often limit their sensing performance. In this study, we demonstrate the potential of a hybrid multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) film modified boron-doped ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) microelectrode (250 ?m diameter) microsensor for improved detection of dopamine (DA) in the presence of common interferents. A series of modified microelectrodes with varying film thicknesses were microfabricated by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and silver deposition imaging. Using cyclic voltammetry, the 100-nm