Simply synthesized nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dot (NGQD)-modified electrode for the ultrasensitive photoelectrochemical detection of dopamine

Recently, nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (NGQDs), as a new type of quantum semiconductor and photoelectrochemical material, are promising candidates in photoelectric sensing, water splitting, and biological imaging and have various potential application prospects. In this work, NGQDs were prepared by a simple calcination method, and then a photoelectrochemical sensing platform based on the NGQDs electrode with superior photoelectrochemical activity was designed and fabricated for the detection of dopamine (DA). Benefitting from the quantum effect and size effect, NGQDs displayed an enhanced photocurrent effective within ultra-low detection limit (0.03 μm), wide detection range (0.03–450 and 450–9680 μm), and high sensitivity in detecting DA with the assistance of ultraviolet light irradiation. The NGQDs electrode also showed continuous and stable photocurrent densities after long-term experiment, indicating the excellent durability of NGQDs for DA detection.