Defect　rich　partially　unzipped　N-doped　carbon　nanotubes　(PU-NCNTs)　were　synthesized　by　the　chemical　unzipped　N-doped　carbon　nanotubes　(NCNTs).　Compared　with　NCNTs,　PU-NCNTs　exhibit　faster　electron　transfer　kinetics　in　representative　inner-　and　outer-sphere　redox　probes　as　well　as　higher　selectivity　and　sensitivity　toward　dopamine　detection.　These　properties　are　due　to　their　unique　caterpillar-like　carbon　nanotube-graphene　complex　structure　with　high　proportion　of　defect/edge　sites,　large　accessible　surface　area　and　high　electrical　conductivity,　thus　reveals　as　a　promising　platform　for　further　applications　in　electrochemical　sensing.　©　2014　Elsevier　B.V.