Sensitive detection for nicotine using nickel/copper nanoparticle–modified carbon paste electrode

Abstract

Abstract The need of quick testing of nicotine (NIC) is vital because of its hurtful impacts on human. NIC detection has been successfully developed using a novel sensitive simple electrochemical sensor. The sensor system is based on modifying a carbon paste electrode (CPE) using Ni and Cu nanoparticles to develop the new nickel/copper nanoparticle–modified carbon paste electrode (NCNMCPE) with low-cost and simple procedure. The sensor showed excellent electrocatalytic activity for NIC oxidation in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0) at a lower voltage of 1.3 V, with a linear response from 6.0 to 1000.0 µM. The detection limit (LOD) was estimated to be 0.14 nM. The sensing performance of the NCNMCPE for the electro-oxidation of NIC was examined utilizing cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) techniques were used to achieve surface characteristics.