Design and In Situ Synthesis of Titanium Carbide/Boron Nitride Nanocomposite: Investigation of Electrocatalytic Activity for the Sulfadiazine Sensor
Thangavelu Kokulnathan, Elumalai Ashok Kumar, Tzyy‐Jiann Wang
Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials are considered a rising star in diverse electrochemical technologies due to their special characteristics. We report here the design and synthesis of 2D titanium carbide/boron nitride nanocomposite via the sonochemical method. The successfully produced TiC/BN nanocomposites were characterized by in-depth electron microscopic and spectroscopic methods and served as an electrocatalyst for the determination of sulfadiazine (SFZ). The good electrocatalytic activity toward SFZ sensing with strong durability and good stability can be achieved by the TiC/BN-modified electrode. The unique structural characteristic of the TiC/BN electrocatalyst is in favor of accommodating more surface sites, improved conductivity, promoted charge-transfer ability, and enhanced surface area. For the proof of the above concept, the TiC/BN-modified electrode was characterized with low charge-transfer resistance (Rct = 20 Ω), good peak potential separation (ΔEp = 0.080 V), and good active surface area (A = 0.106 cm2). According to the measurement results of electrochemical response toward SFZ, the TiC/BN-modified electrode shows a trace-level limit of detection (3.0 nM), a large working range (0.01–44; 59–186 μM), good sensitivity (1.47 μA μM–1 cm2), high selectivity and good reproducibility (4.11%). The proposed electrochemical sensor possesses good detection performance in monitoring human urine samples. The obtained results would shed light on the applications of electrocatalyst in electrochemical sensors.