A synergetic effect of cerium oxide nanocubes and gold nanoparticles for developing a new photoelectrochemical sensor of codeine drug

Abstract

A new photoelectrochemical sensor for codeine (COD) drug based on cerium oxide nanocubes (NCs) and gold nanoparticles (NPs) composite modified screen-printed electrode (SPE) is developed for the first time. Codeine belongs to the opiates drug family naturally found in the poppy plant, has intensive effects on the central nervous system. Although CeO2 NCs showed a photoelectrochemical signal, the combination with Au NPs significantly improves the sensitivity four times and selectivity toward COD. Further, the synergetic combination of CeO2 NCs/Au NPs allows the generation of photocurrent extended to the visible light region because it sensitizes charge carrier generation. The CeO2 NCs/Au NPs -SPE offers a promising, robust, and chemically stable non-enzymatic photoelectrochemical sensor for COD determination within a linear detection range up to 200 μM and a lower detection limit (LOD) (3S/N) of 0.02 μM. The proposed PECS showed high stability and good reproducibility which extend the applicability to generate a new monitoring system for in-set drug analysis.