Fabrication of novel shape Cu and Cu/Cu2O nanoparticles modified electrode for the determination of dopamine and paracetamol

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, we demonstrate and compare the synthesis of copper (Cu) and copper(I) oxide on Cu (Cu/Cu 2 O) nanoparticles via thermal decomposition method using a combination of oleic acid and oleylamine and oleic acid alone. Using a combination of oleic acid and oleylamine, involves a single nucleation step and control in growth of nanoparticles produces high monodispersity in shape and protects the copper nanoparticles against oxidation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms the formation of single phase Cu only and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) evidences the formation of Cu without any formation of oxides on surfaces for over a long period of time with good stability. In view of interest in electrochemical sensors, we explore the fabrication of a novel and highly sensitive electrode and compare the electrochemical current responses for simultaneous determination of paracetamol and dopamine using Cu/Cu 2 O nanoparticles stabilized by oleic acid alone and Cu nanoparticles obtained from a combination of oleic acid and oleylamine. Interestingly, we observe that Cu/Cu 2 O nanoparticles stabilized by oleic acid alone exhibit excellent electrochemical enhancement in the peak current response towards simultaneous determination of paracetamol and dopamine with an increase in peak-peak separation of 239 mV. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) studies show a linear response to dopamine within the concentration from 0.02 μM to 0.159 μM with a detection limit of 3.27 nM (S/N = 3).