Mo-doped CoP nanoparticles embedded bamboo-like N-doped carbon nanotube modified hollow carbon nanocage for electrochemical sensing of dopamine in human serum and meat samples.

Rapid and sensitive detection of dopamine (DA) concentration in body and food is of great significance for the prevention of neurological diseases. Herein, Mo-doped CoP nanoparticles embedded bamboo-like nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube-modified hollow nanocages are prepared using Mo-ZIF-8@ZIF-67 as a self-sacrificing template. The hollow nanostructures modified by carbon nanotubes provide a large specific surface area and abundant active sites. The doping of Mo and N can adjust the electronic structure of the catalyst and improve its electrocatalytic oxidation ability. As a DA sensor, it exhibits a good two-stage linear range (1 μM to 50 μM and 50 μM to 300 μM), respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) is 55 nM (S/N = 3). The sensor has been successfully applied to the determination of DA in human serum and beef samples with recoveries of 97.0 %-106.1 % and RSD < 4.1 %, which has great application potential in the field of DA detection.