A novel electron transfer kinetic for terbutaline detection using Tio2-MWCNTs-IL modified GCE

Herein, we report a novel electrochemical detection method based on nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) nano-sensor for terbutaline (TBS). Titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) were synthesized and the respective titanium oxide nanoparticles-multi walled carbon nanotubes-ionic liquid (TiO2-MWCNTs-IL) nanocomposite was successfully prepared. Subsequently, the surface morphology, functional groups and thermal stability of the synthesized TiO2NPs and the nanocomposite aspects were analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. In addition, electrochemical characterization of the fabricated TiO2-MWCNTs-IL-GCE was examined using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in order to ensure the material's suitability in electro-catalytic sensing by investigating the electron transfer kinetics of the redox probe at the modified electrode-solution interface. TiO2-MWCNTs-IL-GCE exhibited excellent significant electro-catalytic activity for the electro-oxidation of TBS at optimized electrochemical experimental conditions. The reproducibility, stability as well as the detection limits were determined. A wide linear range of 0.5 μM–3.0 μM as well as limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.016 μM and 0.214 μM, respectively, were obtained and the results were compared with similarly reported electrodes for terbutaline detection. In addition, the TiO2-MWCNTs-IL-GCE sensor has superb stability, selectivity and repeatability. Moreover, the fabricated electrode was also used for determination of TBS in its drug formulation with good percentage recovery performance (93.0%–100.2%).