Voltammetric reduction of a 4-nitroimidazole derivative on a multiwalled carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode

Abstract

We report the electrochemical behavior of a 4-nitroimidazole derivative, 1-methyl-4-nitro-2-hydroxymethylimidazole (4-NImMeOH), on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). As dispersing agents, dimethylformamide (DMF) and water were used. The electrochemical response of the resulting electrodes was evaluated using linear sweep, cyclic and square-wave voltammetry (LSV, CV and SWV). Several parameters such as medium pH, nature and concentration of the CNTs dispersion and accumulation time were tested. The optimal conditions determined for obtain better response were: pH 2, dispersion concentration = 4 mg/mL of CNT in water, accumulation time = 7 min. The MWCNT-modified GCE exhibited attractive electrochemical properties producing enhanced currents with a significant reduction in the overpotential and good signal-to-noise characteristics, in comparison with the bare GCE. The modified electrode is highly repeatable for consecutive measurements, reaching a variation coefficient of 2.9% for ten consecutive runs.