Evaluation of Tb3+-doped spinel magnesium aluminate as a dual-function material for dopamine sensing using glassy carbon electrode and forensic applications

• Published in: Inorganic chemistry communications Vol. 170; p. 113286
• Main Authors: Sharma, S.C., Nadar, Nandini Robin, Deepak, J., Radha Krushna, B.R., Nagabhushana, H., George, Augustine, Inbanathan, Jaiganesh, Panda, Maitreyee, Sudramani, R., Anand, D.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.12.2024
• Subjects: Anti-counterfeiting; Dopamine; Electrochemical studies; Hydrothermal; Latent fingerprint; Modified glassy carbon electrode; Electrochemical studies; Modified glassy carbon electrode; Latent fingerprint; Dopamine; Hydrothermal; Anti-counterfeiting
• ISSN: 1387-7003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.inoche.2024.113286

[Display omitted] •MgAl2O4:Tb3+ (1–11 mol%) nanocomposites detected dopamine in the range of 2 μM to 10 mM with LOD of 1.22 μM.•Selective dopamine sensing with 94 % recovery and stability across 25 cycles.•Developed latent fingerprints under UV light with stable and minute ridge details.•Developed anti-counterfeiting ink retain fluorescent stability in harsh conditions. This study reports the synthesis and multifunctional applications of MgAl2O4: Tb3+ (MAOT) nanocomposites (NCs) synthesized by a facile combustion method. The synthesized nanocrystals exhibited spherical nature with an average size of about 20 nm and excellent crystallinity with homogeneous morphology, evidenced by various techniques, such as powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Scanning electron microscope (TEM). These NCs, when used to modify a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), allow the highly sensitive and selective electrochemical detection of dopamine (DA) in a broad linear range of 2 μM to 10 mM at an optimum pH of 7.0. It was able to reach a low detection limit of 1.22 μM with 91.67 % recovery and stability over 25 cycles. The different parameters such as pH, DA concentration, scan rate, and interference with other biomolecules were optimized, and the response showed consistent linearity with an R2 value of 0.99. Moreover, MAOT NCs showed extraordinary capability in visualizing latent fingerprints (LFPs) on different substrates under UV illumination, revealing minute details of ridges with more stability. As invisible anti-counterfeit (AC) inks, they retain fluorescence strength in solution for more than 270 days and, at the same time, withstand temperatures of up to 140 °C. These results provide evidence that the NCs offer a novel versatile platform material for advanced biosensing, forensic identification, and security applications with excellent efficiency, and durability, opening up expectations toward further technological advancements.