Carbon electrode modified with ionic liquid and multi-walled carbon nanotubes for voltammetric sensing of adenine

A voltammetric sensor was fabricated by applying a Nafion and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) composite film on the surface of a carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE), which was prepared by mixing 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate with graphite powder. The electrochemical behavior of adenine on the Nafion-MWCNTs/CILE was investigated in pH 5.5 buffer solution. Adenine showed an irreversible adsorption-controlled oxidation reaction with enhanced electrochemical response, which was due to the presence of high conductive MWCNTs on the CILE surface. The electrochemical parameters of adenine electro-oxidation were determined, and the experimental conditions were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the oxidation peak current was linear to the adenine concentration over the range of 1.0 x 10(-7) to 7.0 x 10(-5) mol L(-1) with a detection limit of 3.3 x 10(-8) mol L(-1) (signal/noise = 3). The electrode showed good stability and selectivity, and was further applied to milk powder samples with satisfactory results.