Exploiting the synergistic effects of combined carbon‐based materials for rape drug diazepam electrochemical sensing: application to simulated casework matrices
Cristiane Jost, Isabelle de Oliveira Borges, Rayane Bueno Goularte, Caio Vanoni, Adriano Rogerio Silva Lima, Marcos Roberto Scheide Neto, Daniela Zambelli Mezalira, Luciano Vitali, Hellen Karine Stulzer- Electrochemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
Diazepam (DZP), a long‐lasting benzodiazepine and controlled substance, is prevalent on the illegal market, notably as a date rape drug. This study presents a novel electrochemical sensor (CPE/GCPE/MWCNTs) for DZP determination in lab routines. Characterized through LSV, EIS, and SEM, the sensor revealed a pH‐dependent, irreversible reduction process at approximately ‐0.70 V ( <i>vs</i>. Ag/AgCl <sub>(sat)</sub>). Optimization with SWV and 0.1 mol L <sup>‐1</sup> B‐R solution (pH 1.0) produced a calibration curve spanning 1.49 to 21.5 µmol L <sup>‐1</sup>. LOD and LOQ were 0.33 and 1.10 μmol L <sup>‐1</sup>, respectively. Quantification in spiked samples exhibited no significant differences compared to HPLC‐DAD, endorsing the sensor for monitoring date rape drugs in forensic analysis.