This research developed a highly efficient voltammetric sensor, utilizing a carbon paste electrode (CPE) integrated with a novel ZnO-doped Pd–Pt bimetallic catalyst decorated with reduced graphene oxide (ZnO-Pt@Pd/rGO) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([EMIM][Tf2N]), for the precise determination of sulfafurazole in real dextrose saline and tablet samples. The ZnO-Pt@Pd/rGO nanocomposite was synthesized through a one-stage synthesis process and characterized using SEM and EDS techniques. The comparison of the ZnO-Pt@Pd/rGO/[EMIM][Tf2N]/CPE with unmodified CPE, ZnO-Pt@Pd/rGO/CPE, and [EMIM][Tf2N]/CPE confirms the synergic effect of ZnO-Pt@Pd/rGO and [EMIM][Tf2N] as two conductive catalysts in fabrication of new sensor. The resulting sensor exhibited remarkable stability over a period of 2 months without compromising its efficiency for sulfafurazole detection. With a linear range of 0.001–250 μM (R2 = 0.9971) and LOD of 0.4 nM, ZnO-Pt@Pd/rGO/[EMIM][Tf2N]/CPE showcased exceptional accuracy and precision in the monitoring of sulfafurazole. Validation using real tablet and dextrose saline samples confirmed the sensor's outstanding capability in determining sulfafurazole, with relative recoveries ranging from 98.92 to 103.8% offering a promising solution for reliable sulfafurazole analysis in diverse pharmaceutical samples.

Development of a graphene-based bimetallic catalyst for enhanced voltammetric detection of sulfafurazole antimicrobial agents
    Abstract
    1 Introduction
    2 Experimental
        2.1 Materials and instruments
        2.2 Synthesis of ZnO-Pt@PdrGO nanocomposite
        2.3 Fabrication of ZnO-Pt@PdrGO[EMIM][Tf2N]CPE
        2.4 Real sample preparation
    3 Results and discussion
        3.1 Characterization of ZnO-Pt@PdrGO nanocomposite
        3.2 Electrochemical investigations
            3.2.1 Optimization of catalysts
            3.2.2 Optimization of pH
            3.2.3 Surface modification and scan rate study
            3.2.4 Dynamic range investigation
            3.2.5 Stability and selectivity studies
            3.2.6 Real sample analysis
    4 Conclusion
    References

• Mohammad Khazaei Nejad(Department of Applied Chemistry, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran)
• Hassan Ali Zamani(Department of Applied Chemistry, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran)