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

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 850 mV at the surface of the modified electrode. Linear sweep voltammetry exhibited two wide linear dynamic ranges of 0.1-100 and 100-600 mu mol L-1 cefixime. The detection limit was found to be 0.02 mu mol L-1 cefixime. Finally, the modified electrode showed good sensitivity, selectivity and stability for the determination of cefixime in real samples. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.