Synthesis, characterisation, and the electrochemical sensing behaviour of nicotinic acid hydrazide anchored on graphene oxide (NAHGO)

Abstract A simple modified sensor was developed with nicotinic acid hydrazide anchored on graphene oxide (NAHGO), synthesised by ultrasonic assisted chemical route, using hydroxy benzotriazole. Structural and morphologies of NAHGO samples were characterised by Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Morphology modification of the material provided the route for more electroactive surface, that influenced the electro oxidation of caffeine with increased current. We have demonstrated the electrochemical behaviour of NAHGO on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for caffeine detection, by employing voltammetric techniques. The influence of scan rate, pH, and concentration on the peak current of caffeine was also studied. The NAHGO sensor was employed for the determination of caffeine in imol plus and energy drink. The detection limit determined was 8.7 nM, and the best value reported so far. The results show that NAHGO modified electrodes is one of the best preferences to establish new, efficient, and reliable analytical tools.