Chapter 7 Electrochemical detection of illicit drugs

Currently, drugs serve significant roles in daily life, fulfilling both therapeutic and recreational purposes. The persistent increase in substance trafficking and usage presents a continuous and substantial global challenge, impacting society, health, criminality, and the environment on a significant scale. This chapter thoroughly investigates nanomaterials-based composites used in the electrochemical sensing of illicit drugs. It explores the electrochemical characteristics of illicit drugs, revealing unique interaction patterns. It also examines nanomaterials-based composites' synthesis and unique properties tailored for electrochemical sensors, including carbonaceous nanostructures-based, metal, metal oxide materials-based, polymers and nanofilms-based composites sensors. Additionally, it discusses the practical application of these composites in electrochemical sensors for detecting illicit drugs. Detailed analysis includes outlining their functionalities and advancements in electrochemical sensing. This comprehensive exploration emphasizes the crucial role of nanomaterials-based composites in electrochemical sensing, particularly in detecting illicit drugs, encompassing both current progress and prospects.