Facile fabrication of screen-printed MoS(2) electrodes for electrochemical sensing of dopamine

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS(2)) screen-printed working electrodes were developed for dopamine (DA) electrochemical sensing. MoS(2) working electrodes were prepared from high viscosity screen-printable inks containing various concentrations and sizes of MoS(2) particles and ethylcellulose binder. Rheological properties of MoS(2) inks and their suitability for screen-printing were analyzed by viscosity curve, screen-printing simulation and oscillatory modulus. MoS(2) inks were screen-printed onto conductive FTO (Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide) substrates. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) analysis were used to characterize the homogeneity, topography and thickness of the screen-printed MoS(2) electrodes. The electrochemical performance was assessed through differential pulse voltammetry. Results showed an extensive linear detection of dopamine from 1 µM to 300 µM (R(2) = 0.996, sensitivity of 5.00 × 10(–8) A μM(−1)), with the best limit of detection being 246 nM. This work demonstrated the possibility of simple, low-cost and rapid preparation of high viscosity MoS(2) ink and their use to produce screen-printed FTO/MoS(2) electrodes for dopamine detection.