A novel theory of employing interface potential barriers as a controllabe tuning factor for electrochemical detection is proposed. The 3D NiO/PANI/ZnO hierarchical heterostructure is fabricated by thermal oxidation, electropolymerization and electrodeposition. The 3D NiO/PANI/ZnO heterostructure is then chose as a model for electrochemical detection of dopamine, uric acid and ascorbic acid. The p-n and p-p junction interface potential barriers are employed as tuning factors to achieve high selectivity and sensitivity. Our results demonstrate the electrochemical response to different targets can be controllable enhanced or weakened by rational design of interface potential barriers. The potential barrier height Φp-n is an enhanced tuning factor, and Φp-p is a selective tuning factor. We afford a controllable adjustive approach to achieve desired selectivity and sensitivity.
Keywords: Electrochemical detection; Heterostructure; Interface potential barrier; NiO/polyaniline/ZnO; Tuning factor.
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