Electrochemical voltammetry quantification of dopamine based on ceria-doped ZnAl2O4

Due to the growing prevalence of stress-related disorders such as depression, the need for reliable detection methods for neurotransmitters like dopamine, which play a crucial role in mood regulation, has become increasingly important. In this study, the novelty of this work lies in the first-time integration of ceria-doped ZnAl₂O₄ (CZAO) nanoparticles for dual electrochemical applications like dopamine sensing and possible supercapacitor performance. The modified carbon paste electrode (MCPE) incorporated with CZAO exhibited superior electrochemical properties, showing a significant increase in anodic peak current (5.29 μA) compared to the bare electrode (3.6 μA), indicating enhanced DA detection. Optimal DA analysis was achieved at a pH of 7.0, with a linear regression value of 0.9958. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were determined to be 0.5137 μM and 1.712 μM. The modified electrode demonstrated impressive stability, maintaining 87 % activity over 20 cycles. Furthermore, the CZAO NPs showed an outstanding specific capacitance of 1444 F/g at a scan rate of 2 mV/s, highlighting their potential for energy storage in supercapacitors. This work emphasizes the excellent electrochemical performance of CZAO NPs, both in enhancing neurotransmitter detection sensitivity and in providing high-capacitance energy storage.