Efficient label-free detection of chloramphenicol by iron-doped cadmium sulfide nanomaterials

In the present study, undoped and doped (iron and cobalt) cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method and explored their potential as an electrochemical sensor. Different characterization techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV–Vis spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmet and Teller's (BET) analysis, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) are used to study the structure, size, morphology, composition, and surface area of the synthesized materials. The electrochemical sensing properties of synthesized materials are assessed by cyclic voltammetry (CV), equipped with a three-electrode system. The iron-doped CdS/GCE displays the lowest detection limit (0.064 μM) and the linear response from 0.001 to 1.6 μM CAP concentration in comparison of pristine and cobalt-doped CdS/GCEs. Additionally, the proposed sensor shows promising selectivity in the presence of other biomolecules such as thiamphenicol, chlorphenicol, and clindamycin. This study presents the efficient potential of iron-doped CdS NPs for electrochemical sensing of chloramphenicol.