Evaluation of nicotine sensor based on copper nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes

Abstract

An electrochemical sensor was prepared to detect nicotine by depositing copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). The modified electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The novel-modified sensor exhibited effective electrocatalytic activities toward anodic oxidation of nicotine. Calibration plot showed two linear regions with different sensitivity, 1.121 (r 2 = 0.982) in the range from 1 × 10−6 to 9 × 10−5 M and 0.164 (r 2 = 0.982) from 1 × 10−4 M up to 1 × 10−3 M. The detection limit was 1 µM. For six parallel detections of 1 mM nicotine, the relative standard deviation was 5.68 %, suggesting that the film-modified electrode had good reproducibility. Experimental parameters affecting the sensor response such as pH, modifier concentration and electro-deposition scan rate were found to be optimum at 7.0, 2 mg mL−1 and 80 mV s−1, respectively.