Multiwall carbon nanotubes decorated with NiFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles, a new catalyst for voltammetric determination of cefixime

Abstract

Multiwall carbon nanotubes were decorated with synthesized NiFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles. The new materials were characterized with different techniques such as transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The multiwall carbon nanotubes decorated with NiFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles was used as a new mediator for the voltammetric determination of cefixime. Under the optimum conditions at pH 8.0, the oxidation of cefixime was occurred at 850mV at the surface of the modified electrode. Linear sweep voltammetry exhibited two wide linear dynamic ranges of 0.1–100 and 100–600μmolL−1 cefixime. The detection limit was found to be 0.02μmolL−1 cefixime. Finally, the modified electrode showed good sensitivity, selectivity and stability for the determination of cefixime in real samples.