Ytterbium fluoride nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes: preparation, characterization and application for simultaneous electrochemical determination of ascorbic acid, dopamine and uric acid

A novel modified glassy carbon electrode with ytterbium fluoride nanoparticles (YFNPs)-multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was fabricated and then successfully used for the simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA). YFNPs were successfully coated on the MWCNTs via the intermediate of noncovalent hydrophobic interactions of the MWCNTs surface with sodium dodecyl sulfate. The YFNPs and immobilization of YFNPs on MWCNTs were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The particle size of YFNPs was measured to be around 45 nm. The catalytic peak currents for AA, DA and UA were linearly dependent on their concentrations in the range of 2.0-600.0, 2.0-560.0 and 1.8-640.0 mu M, respectively, with the corresponding detection limits of 0.77, 0.22 and 0.17 mu M. The modified electrode provided good sensitivity and stability, and was successfully applied for the simultaneous determination of AA, DA and UA in human blood serum and urine samples.