A comparative study of different electrodeposited NiCo(2)O(4) microspheres anchored on a reduced graphene oxide platform: electrochemical sensor for anti-depressant drug venlafaxine

Two different fabrication methods were performed and compared for preparation of binary metallic oxide microstructures supported on a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) modified graphite electrode. Nickel–Cobalt oxide microspheres (NiCo(2)O(4) MSs) were prepared by two different deposition methods: wet chemical and in situ-electrical deposited methods. Different characterization methods were conducted, including cyclic voltammetry (CV), scanning emission microscopy (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Raman spectroscopy. The deposition methods of NiCo(2)O(4) MSs were found to affect the electrochemical behavior of the modified electrodes towards the oxidation of venlafaxine (VEN), an anti-depressant drug. The fabricated electrode showed linearity over the range 5–500 nmol L(−1) and an excellent sensitivity with a limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 3.4 and 10.3 nmol L(−1), respectively. It was revealed that the wet-NiCo(2)O(4)@rGO modified electrode prepared by the wet chemical method showed an improved electrochemical behavior for determination of VEN in pharmaceuticals and human plasma with high recovery results in the range of 96.7–98.6% and 96.0–100.7%, respectively without any interference from the co-existing components.