Proton conductive 2D MXene-derived potassium titanate nanoribbons fabricated electrochemical platform for trace detection of enrofloxacin.

In recent years, due to exceptional properties like broad interlayered spacing and low working potential, MXene-derived titanate nanoribbons have been established as promising electrode materials. Herein, the electrocatalytic activity of MXene-derived potassium titanate nanoribbon was employed to develop a voltammetric sensor for the detection of enrofloxacin. The sensor's significance is to provide a sustainable solution to quantify the presence of enrofloxacin regarding food safety and environmental monitoring. Moreover, to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals by preventing antimicrobial resistance to accomplish the One Health approach. Potassium titanate nanoribbons were synthesized using 2D TiC MXene as an active precursor material, while X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction pattern, elemental mapping, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to characterize the crystallinity, surface and layered morphology of synthesized nanoribbons. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) technique was applied to calculate the specific surface area of the synthesized materials. The materials underwent electrochemical characterization using cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Later on, the nanoribbons were fabricated on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode, and the electro-oxidative behaviour of enrofloxacin was studied by CV, DPV, square wave voltammetry (SWV) in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (optimized pH 8). The developed sensor depicts a significantly lower limit of quantification of 0.007 μM (≈2.5 μg/L), and an upper limit of quantification of 18 μM (≈6.5 mg/L) along with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.00279, 0.00803, 0.00881 μM obtained from CV, DPV, and SWV respectively. Furthermore, the developed electrodes show a reliable selectivity to be examined in real complex matrices, i.e. marine water, river water, agricultural soil, organic fertilizer, milk, honey, and poultry egg.