Synthesis and Characterization of Iron-Cobalt@Activated Carbon Nanoparticles for Electrochemical Sensing of Dopamine Neurotransmitters

Activated carbon-supported FeCo@AC nanoparticles (FeCo@ACNPs) were synthesized for catalytic activity and extend shelf life by incorporating bimetallic iron-cobalt nanoparticles (FeCoNPs). The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to elucidate their structural and morphological properties. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of metal nanoparticles with characteristic peaks at 590–612 cm⁻¹. TEM analysis revealed an average nanoparticle size of 10.71 ± 3.52 nm, while XRD results indicated crystalline dimensions of 7.2 nm. FeCo@ACNPs were further modified onto a glassy carbon electrode, and their sensor activity was evaluated for dopamine detection in the linear range of 0.1–1 mM. The study determined a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.65 µM and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 1.97 nM. These findings not only reinforce previous studies on dopamine sensing but also provide valuable understanding of dopamine sensing and highlight its potential for health applications, particularly in diagnosing neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease by monitoring dopamine levels.