A Nickel Telluride Electrochemical Sensor for the Detection of the Antibiotic Ronidazole

Abstract

The widespread use of nitroimidazole antibiotics such as ronidazole (RON) in human and veterinary medicine raises concerns about environmental persistence and antimicrobial resistance. Sensitive detection of trace RON in water is therefore essential. Here, we report for the first time, nickel telluride nanoparticles (NiTe NPs) as an electrochemical sensor specifically designed for RON detection. NiTe, a transition metal chalcogenide with high conductivity and electrocatalytic activity, was synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. When drop-cast on a glassy carbon electrode, the NiTe NPs significantly enhanced electron transfer and promoted efficient electrochemical reduction of RON. The sensor achieved a detection limit of 1.5 nM, a wide linear range of 0.01–270 μM, and a sensitivity of 0.489 μA μM^–1 cm^–2. It also displayed excellent selectivity against common interferents and maintained stability and reproducibility during extended testing. Application to spiked tap and river water confirmed accurate recovery. This work highlights NiTe as an underutilized telluride-based material and establishes its novel application in the environmental monitoring of antibiotic contaminants, addressing a critical gap in electrochemical sensing research.