Sonochemical driven simple preparation of nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots/SnO2 nanocomposite: A novel electrocatalyst for sensitive voltammetric determination of riboflavin

Abstract We report a simple preparation of novel nanocomposite for the sensitive determination of riboflavin (RF) in real samples. Nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots/SnO 2 (N-CQD/SnO 2 ) nanocomposite was prepared using sonochemical approach and applied as a voltammetric sensor for the sensitive determination of RF for the first time. The crystallographic phase, functional groups, surface analysis, and elemental distribution were examined using XRD, FT-IR, HR-TEM and EDS spectroscopic techniques respectively. This N-CQD/SnO 2 nanocomposite-modified electrode shows a fast and sensitive electrochemical response to RF sensing with a good sensitivity (2.496 μA μM −1  cm -2 ), wide linear range (0.05–306 μM), low detection limit (8 nM) and excellent anti-interference ability. Furthermore, the developed sensor was investigated in commercial riboflavin tablets and milk powder and obtained results are quite satisfactory.