Simultaneous detection of dopamine, uric acid and α-lipoic acid using nickel hydroxide nanosheets

In this work, nickel hydroxide nanosheets were synthesised by a simple and facile method and were used for simultaneous detection of dopamine, uric acid and α-lipoic acid. The synthesis was based on the co-precipitation method involving sodium borohydride and nickel nitrate. The nanosheets were characterised by various microscopic and spectroscopic methods. Due to their 2D structure, nickel hydroxide nanosheets has several exposed active sites making them electrochemically active. Electrochemical properties were analysed using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry in 0.1 M PBS (pH 7.4). The electrochemical sensor made using the nanosheets could detect dopamine (DA), uric acid (UA) and α-lipoic acid (ALA) in PBS buffer, making them an excellent sensor. The simultaneous detection of DA, UA and ALA, also can be performed. The calculated value of the limit of detection (LOD) for DA, UA and ALA were 1.32, 1.701 and 2.66 µM, respectively. The present electrochemical sensor exhibited good stability, repeatability and high selectivity.