Highly sensitive niclosamide detection using the multifunctional carbon nanoflowers@halloysite nanotubes@graphene nanoplates nanocomposite modified electrochemical sensor

In this study, the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was embellished with carbon nanoflowers (CNF)@halloysite nanotubes (Hal)@graphene nanoplates (Gr) nanocomposite to fabricate the CNF@Hal@Gr/GCE sensor for the sensitive determination of niclosamide (NA). CNF with unique petal-shaped structure had good conductivity and abundant active sites, which could accelerate the rate of electron transfer and provide large specific surface area. Hal with outstanding physical adsorption capacity could enrich NA molecules on the working electrode surface. Gr with nano-plates structure exhibited superior electrical conductivity and larger specific surface area. The CNF@Hal@Gr nanocomposite not only increased the contact area of working electrode with NA molecules but also possessed excellent electrical conductivity and adsorption properties. The CNF@Hal@Gr/GCE sensor exhibited ultrasensitive NA detection performance, including wide linear range (0.01–20 μM) and low limit of detection (5.83 nM). Moreover, the CNF@Hal@Gr/GCE sensor presented superior practical applicability with relative standard deviations of 0.87–4.71% and recoveries of 95.18–103.1%.