A surface-modified silicon carbide nanoparticles based electrochemical sensor for free interferences determination of caffeine in tea and coffee

In this work, the surface-modified silicon carbide nanoparticles (SiC-NPs) were used as a sensing material for the determination of caffeine. The [Cu(pydc) (apym)](2) loaded on the surface of functionalized SiC-NPs. The mixture of SiC-NPs/[Cu(pydc)(apym)](2) and graphene nanosheets used as a new electrode material. Cyclic Voltammetry technique used to study the electrochemical behavior of the GC/Gr/SiC-NPs/[Cu(pydc)(apym)](2) modified electrode. The GC/Gr/SiC-NPs/[Cu(pydc)(apym)](2) modified electrode shows excellent electrocatalytic activity toward caffeine oxidation and dramatically reduce the oxidation overpotential. The typical amperometry method is used to evaluate the performance of the sensing material for the determination of caffeine. Under optimum conditions, the detection limit and sensitivity were obtained, 0.313 mu M and of 134.1 mu A/nM(-1), respectively. The performance of the designed sensor was evaluated by the successful determination of caffeine in commercial tea and coffee.

Automated summary

In this study, surface-modified silicon carbide nanoparticles were used as a sensing material for the determination of caffeine, with excellent electrocatalytic activity towards caffeine oxidation demonstrated. The electrochemical behavior of the modified electrode was studied using cyclic voltammetry and the sensor's performance was evaluated through typical amperometry methods, successfully determining caffeine in commercial tea and coffee.