Molybdenum oxide nanoparticles for the sensitive and selective detection of dopamine

Molybdenum oxide nanoparticles (MoOx NPs) were successfully prepared by the pulsed laser ablation technique in water. Picosecond pulses allowed synthesizing chemically and morphologically stable MoOx colloidal nanoparticles dispersed in water, which are used to fabricate modified screen printed carbon paste electrode (SPCE). The molybdenum oxide nanoparticles modified electrode (MoOx NPs/SPCE) shows enhanced electro-catalytic behavior for the detection of dopamine in Phosphate Buffered Saline (pH = 7) solution. Under the optimal conditions, the peak current of dopamine increased linearly with the concentration in the 0.1–600 μM range, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 43 nM. The very easy MoOx NPs/SPCE fabrication, its high sensitivity, sub-micromolar detection limits and excellent selectivity towards main interferents, made them as a potential candidate for the detection of dopamine in pharmaceutical and clinical preparations. [Display omitted] •Molybdenum oxide nanoparticles were successfully prepared by picosecond pulsed laser ablation in water.•Molybdenum oxide spherical nanoparticles were used for the mediator-free electrochemical detection of dopamine.•Sensor shows wide linear range (0.1–600 μM), LOD limit of 43 nM toward DA, high selectivity even in presence of AA excess.