Amplified electrochemical sensor employing CuO/SWCNTs and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate for selective analysis of sulfisoxazole in the presence of folic acid

Abstract

In the present work, CuO nanoparticle decorated on single wall carbon nanotubes (CuO/SWCNTs) nanocomposite was successfully synthesized by chemical precipitation method and used for modification of carbon paste electrode (CPE) in the presence of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (1-B-3-MIHFP) liquid as binder. The novel voltammetric sensor was used as first electrochemical sensor for determination of sulfisoxazole (SFX). CuO/SWCNTs nanocomposite characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) methods. Voltammetric methods such as cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry (SWV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chronoamperometry were performed to assess the electrochemical performance of CuO/SWCNTs/1-B- 3-MIHFP/CPE towards SFX in aqueous solution. The voltammetric obtained data confirm the significant enhancement of oxidation current and reduction overvoltage for electro-oxidation of SFX at a surface of CuO/SWCNTs/1-B-3-MIHFP/CPE. The square wave voltammetric response shows the linear increment of oxidation signals with an increase in the concentration of SFX in the range of 0.08–650 lM with limit of detection 0.04 lM. Using CuO/SWCNTs/1-B-3-MIHFP/CPE the SFX and folic acid peaks are separated ca. 0.72 and 0.895 V, respectively; hence SFX can be detected in the presence of folic acid. Finally, the CuO/SWCNTs/1-B-3-MIHFP/CPE was used as high sensitive tools for analysis of SFX and folic acid in real samples.