Constructing schottky junction with zero-bandgap graphene was innovatively achieved by electrochemical reduction and deposition of GO on NiO foam directly. The fabricated 3D graphene/NiO foam exhibited highly efficient sensing performance towards positively charged dopamine molecules. The main mechanism is that the adsorbate-induced charges could change the schottky barrier height, following by selectively enhancing or depressing the electrochemical responses of different charged analytes. The proposed self-adjusting effects of schottky barrier on electrochemical signals were theoretically and experimentally explored in depth. As a result, it can help to break the limitation that analytes with similar redox properties are difficult to distinguish by electrochemical methods (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.