A novel sensor based on WO3·0.33H2O nanorods modified electrode for the detection and degradation of herbicide, carbendazim

Electrochemical detection of carbendazim using molecularly imprinted poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) on Co,N co-doped hollow carbon nanocage@CNTs-modified electrode

Precisely detecting trace pesticides and their residues in food products is crucial for ensuring food safety. Herein, a high-performance electrochemical sensing platform was developed for the detection of carbendazim (CBZ) using Co,N co-doped hollow carbon nanocage@carbon nanotubes (Co,N-HC@CNTs) obtained from core-shell ZIF-8@ZIF-67 combined with a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). The Co,N-HC@CNTs exhibited excellent electrocatalytic performance, benefitting from the synergistic effect of CNTs that provide a large specific surface area and excellent electrical conductivity, Co,N co-doped carbon nanocages that offer high electrocatalytic activity and hollow nanocage structures that ensure rapid diffusion kinetics. The conductive PEDOT-MIP provided specific binding sites for CBZ detection and significantly amplified the detection signal. The sensor showed superior selectivity for CBZ with an extremely low detection limit of 1.67 pmol L-1. Moreover, the method was successfully applied to detect CBZ in tomato, orange and apple samples, achieving satisfactory recovery and accuracy, thus demonstrating its practical feasibility.

Fluorescent Ionic Liquid Aggregates: A Self-Assembled Approach for Pesticide Detection and Catalysis

The unregulated use of pesticides, industrial discharge of heavy metals, waste, and agricultural runoff may contaminate surface water and groundwater, consequently threatening ecosystems and human health. Thus, the sensitive detection and degradation of pesticides are essential for safety. In this context, herein, we have developed benzimidazolium-based fluorescent surfactant assemblies TA-1/SDS and TA-2/SDBS, which exhibit aggregation-induced emission enhancement in an aqueous medium. The aggregates (TA-1/SDS and TA-2/SDBS) displayed a turn-on emission response upon interaction with carbendazim and azamethiphos with limits of detection 7.5 and 7.8 nM, respectively. The FE-SEM and AFM studies revealed that TA-1/SDS and TA-2/SDBS undergo self-assembly with the addition of AZA and CBZ, resulting in the formation of dendritic structures. In addition to the quantification of AZA and CBZ, TA-1/SDS and TA-2/SDBS have also been evaluated to degrade both pesticides and validated using 31P NMR spectroscopy and LC-MS spectrometry.

2D/1D VSe2/MWCNT hybrid-based electrochemical sensor for carbendazim quantification of environmental, food, and biological samples

For the first time the sensitive determination of carbendatim (CRB) is reported utilizing a well-designed sensing architecture based on vanadium diselenide-multiwalled carbon nanotube (VSMC). FTIR, XRD, FESEM, EDS, and EIS were employed to evaluate the sensor's structural integrity, and the results demonstrated the successful integration of nanomaterials, resulting in a robust and sensitive electrochemical sensor. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometric (CA) investigations showed that the sensor best performed at pH 8.0 (BRB) with an excellent detection limit of 9.80 nM with a wide linear range of 0.1 to 10.0 µM. A more thermodynamically viable oxidation of CRB was observed at the VSMC/GCE, with a shift of 200 mV in peak potential towards the less positive side compared with the unmodified GCE. In addition, the sensor demonstrated facile heterogeneous electron transfer, favorable anti-fouling traits in the presence of a wide range of interferents, good stability, and reproducible analytical performance. Finally, the developed sensor was validated for real-time quantification of CRB from spiked water, food, and bio-samples, which depicted acceptable recoveries (98.6 to 101.5%) with RSD values between 0.35 and 2.23%. Further, to derive the possible sensing mechanism, the valence orbitals projected density of states (PDOS) for C, H, and N atoms of an isolated CRB molecule, VSe2 + CNT and VSe2 + CNT + CRB were calculated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The dominant charge transfer from the valence 2p-orbitals of the C and N atoms of CRB to CNT is responsible for the electrochemical sensing of CRB molecules.

Dioctylsulfosuccinate Functionalized NiAl-Layered Double Hydroxide for Sensitive Fenuron Electroanalysis Using a Carbon Paste Electrode

Environmental pollution resulting from the use of pesticides such as fenuron poses significant health risks due to the carcinogenic and teratogenic properties of these compounds. There is an urgent need to develop rapid and cost-effective detection methods for quantifying fenuron. In this study, an inorganic-organic composite material was obtained by intercalating sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate (DSS) within the interlayer space of a nickel-aluminum-layered double hydroxide (NiAl-LDH). The pristine and modified LDHs (NiAl-LDH) were characterized using Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis, confirming the successful intercalation of DSS in the mineral structure. The modified LDH was used to elaborate a sensor for detecting fenuron herbicide via differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) employing a carbon paste electrode (CPE). The electrochemical procedure for fenuron analysis consisted of immersing the working electrode in an electrolytic solution containing the appropriate amount of fenuron, followed by voltammetry detection without any preconcentration step. Compared to CPE modified by pristine LDH, the peak current obtained on the organo-LDH-modified CPE was twice as high. The increase in the fenuron signal was attributed to the high organophilic feature of this composite material induced by DSS modification. To optimize the sensitivity of the organo-LDH modified electrode, the effects of several experimental parameters such as pH of the medium and proportion of the modifier in the paste on the stripping response were examined. Linear calibration curves were obtained for the fenuron concentrations ranging from 0.5 × 10-6 to 1 × 10-6 mol.L-1 and 1 × 10-6 to 5 × 10-6 mol.L-1. The limit of detection (LOD) calculated on the basis of a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 was found to be 1.8 × 10-8 mol.L-1 for the low concentration range with a limit of quantification (LOQ) which was 6 × 10-8 mol.L-1. Furthermore, the interference effect of several inorganic ions and other pesticides potentially affecting fenuron stripping was explored, and the method's applicability was confirmed by determining fenuron levels in a river sample taken from down-town Yaoundé.

Design and synthesis of polypyrrole conductive ink based on sulfated chitosan for bactericide carbendazim detection

Conductive polymers (CPs) are typically insoluble in solvents, and devising biocompatible hydrophilic CPs is challenging and imperative to expand the applications of CPs. Herein, sulfated chitosan (SCS) is used as a green dopant instead of toxic poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS), and SCS:polypyrrole (SCS:PPy) conductive ink is prepared by in situ polymerization. Due to the complex structure between PPy and SCS polyanion, the synthesized SCS:PPy dispersion forms a well-connected electric pathway and confers superior conductivity, dispersion stability, good film-forming ability, and high electrical stability. As proof of our concept, electrochemical sensing utilizing an SCS:PPy-modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) was performed towards carbendazim (CBZ). The SCS:PPy on the SPCE surface displayed greater sensitivity to CBZ because the conductive complex structure eased the electrocatalytic action of SCS:PPy by dramatically increasing the current intensity of CBZ oxidation and notably ameliorating stability. The sensor unveils the lowest detection value of 1.02 nM with a linear range of 0.05 to 906 μM for sensing trace CBZ by utilizing the pulse voltammetry technique. Interestingly, this senor shows excellent selectivity towards CBZ due to the formation of substantial interactions between SCS:PPy and CBZ, as demonstrated by molecular simulation studies. Furthermore, this sensor can precisely monitor CBZ in actual fruit and river water samples with satisfactory results. This study sheds light on the design and synthesis of sustainable hydrophilic CPs in the fabrication of sensors.

Electroanalytical overview: the sensing of carbendazim

Carbendazim is a broad-spectrum systemic fungicide that is used to control various fungal diseases in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry. Carbendazim is also used in post-harvest applications to prevent fungal growth on fruits and vegetables during storage and transportation. Carbendazim is regulated in many countries and banned in others, thus, there is a need for the sensing of carbendazim to ensure that high levels are avoided which can result in potential health risks. One approach is the use of electroanalytical sensors which present a rapid, but highly selective and sensitive output, whilst being economical and providing portable sensing platforms to support on-site analysis. In this minireview, we report on the electroanalytical sensing of carbendazim overviewing recent advances, helping to elucidate the electrochemical mechanism and provide conclusions and future perspectives of this field.

Simple pyrolysis of graphene-wrapped PtNi nanoparticles supported on hierarchically N-doped porous carbon for sensitive detection of carbendazim

A novel electrochemical sensor was established based on graphene-wrapped PtNi nanoparticles supported on three-dimensional (3D) N-doped porous carbon (G-PtNi/3D-NPC) for the highly sensitive and selective detection of carbendazim (CBZ). In this sensing system, the encapsulation of PtNi nanoparticles (NPs) by graphene can effectively prevent the aggregation tendency and enhance the structural stability. The hierarchically porous nanostructures have a large specific surface area to expose a large number of active sites and the resulting enhanced electrical conductivity ultimate improves the electrocatalytic activity towards CBZ. Under the optimal conditions, the prepared sensor showed excellent electrochemical responses for the determination of CBZ with a linear range of 0.5-30 μM and lower limit of detection (LOD) of 0.04 μM (S/N = 3). It also shows excellent anti-interference ability at a working potential of 0.74 V. The feasibility of the senor is demonstrated for its practical assays in diluted peach and vegetable samples with acceptable recovery (95.8-97.3 %, peach; 97.2-97.6 %, vegetable) and a relative standard deviation (RSD) below 2.3%.

Rational design of Nd2O3 decorated functionalized carbon nanofiber composite for selective electrochemical detection of carbendazim fungicides in vegetables, water, and soil samples

Abuse of carbendazim (CBZ) leaves excessive pesticide residues on agricultural products, which endangers human health because of the residues' high concentrations. Hence, a composite consisting of functionalized carbon nanofibers (f-CNF) with neodymium oxide (Nd₂O₃) was fabricated to monitor CBZ at trace levels. The Nd₂O₃/f-CNF composite-modified electrode displays higher electro-oxidation ability towards CBZ than Nd₂O₃ and f-CNF-modified electrodes. The combined unique properties of Nd₂O₃ and f-CNF result in a substantial specific surface area, superior structural stability, and excellent electrocatalytic activity of the composite yielding enhanced sensitivity to detecting CBZ with a detection limit of 4.3 nM. Also, the fabricated sensor electrode can detect CBZ in the linear concentration range of up to 243.0 μM with high selectivity, appropriate reproducibility, and stability. A demonstration of the sensing capability of CBZ in vegetables, water, and soil samples was reported paving the way for its use in practical applications.

Selective detection of carbendazim using a upconversion fluorescence sensor modified by biomimetic molecularly imprinted polymers

The persistence of carbendazim residues in the food chain poses a potential risk to human health. Therefore, an eco-friendly selective and sensitive fluorescence nanosensor was established for carbendazim determination based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) modified upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). The molecularly imprinted coating with methacrylamide as a functional monomer and carbendazim as a template molecule grafted on the UCNPs (UCNPs@MIP) constituted fluorescent recognition elements. The fluorescence emission of UCNPs@MIP significantly declined in the presence of carbendazim due to electron transfer induced by its selective binding with MIP cavities. The quenched fluorescence of UCNPs@MIP was recovered once the template carbendazim was eluted from the probe system. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed method offers a good linear correlation between 0.01 and 1 μg/mL, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.0036 μg/mL for carbendazim residues. The analytical utility and reliability of the developed biomimetic platform were examined in real food samples with good recoveries (88.790%∼102.675%) and relative standard deviation (RSD) values (0.491%∼3.779%). The method was further validated by a standard HPLC method in terms of student's t-test (p > 0.05) with no significant differences between the two methods. Hence, the proposed fluorescence sensor has prospects for rapid determination of carbendazim.

Synergistic formation of samarium oxide/graphene nanocomposite: A functional electrocatalyst for carbendazim detection

Herein, an electrochemical sensor based on samarium oxide anchored, reduced graphene oxide (Sm₂O₃/RGO) nanocomposite was developed for the rapid detection of carbendazim (CBZ). Different characterization methods were infused to deeply examine the morphology, composition, and elemental state of Sm₂O₃/RGO nanocomposite. The Sm₂O₃/RGO modified electrode exhibits an excellent electro-catalytic performance toward CBZ detection with a peak potential of +1.04 V in phosphate buffer solution (pH 3.0), which is superior to the RGO-, Sm₂O₃- and bare- electrodes. This remarkable activity can be credited to the synergetic effect generated by the robust interaction between Sm₂O₃ and RGO, resulting in a well-enhanced electrochemical sensing ability. Impressively, the fabricated sensor shows improved electrochemical performance in terms of the wide working range, detection limit, and strong sensitivity. On a peculiar note, the electrochemical sensing performances of CBZ detection based on Sm₂O₃/RGO nanocomposite demonstrate an extraordinary behavior compared to the prior documented electro-catalyst. In addition, the fabricated Sm₂O₃/RGO sensor also displays good operational stability, reproducibility, and repeatability towards the detection of CBZ. Furthermore, it was successfully applied to the CBZ detection in food and environmental water samples with satisfactory recovery. In accordance with our research findings, the Sm₂O₃/RGO nanocomposite could be used as an electro-active material for effectual electrochemical sensing of food and environmental pollutants.

Se substituted 2D-gC3N4 modified disposable screen-printed carbon electrode substrate: A bifunctional nano-catalyst for electrochemical and absorption study of hazardous fungicide

The indispensable usage of pesticides for the control and prevention of pests is probable and includes several types based on the problems in the crops. Among them, fungicides, are one problem-solving agent curing fungal developments. the disproportionate use of fungicides will lead to environmental deterioration and several health issues. The assessment of such fungicides is highly motivated to be detected. Under the class of two-dimensional materials, graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) with high surface area and high electrocatalytic activity was chosen as electrode material. The efficiency of GCN was improved with the subsequent substitution of selenium (Se) into the triazine ring as Se-GCN. The structural and surface analysis was done and the layered structure was proved. The electrochemical detection of CBM showed a lower detection limit at 6 nM with a linear range 0.099 μM-346.9 μM while, the absorption studies showed a LOD of 20 nM with a linear range of 0.099 μM-182.09 μM. The orange juice and vegetable extract samples had good recovery with CBM at Se-GCN modified disposable screen-printed electrode. The developed disposable electrode was more sensitive with 6.45 μAμM^-1cm² sensitivity and highly reactive with CBM. Moreover, the developed sensor will be more effective in sensing applications to avoid the menace generated by several agents.

Development of 2D graphene oxide sheets-based voltammetric sensor for electrochemical sensing of fungicide, carbendazim

Incorporating new pollutants and environmental pollution has become a formidable issue as new pollutants are introduced into it and have become a significant concern in recent years. Detection of such pollutants needs a susceptible, selective, and cost-effective sensor that can sense their presence and quantify them at a trace level. In the present study, we have designed a 2D graphene oxide (GO)-based glassy carbon electrode (GCE) electrochemical sensor (GO/GCE) and utilized it as a sensing material for the detection and determination of CRZ. The voltammetric behavior of CRZ was studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) techniques. The SWV was applied to quantify and analyze CRZ in actual samples. A better response of CRZ was noticed at GO/GCE when phosphate buffer solution of pH 4.2 was used as a supporting electrolyte for to experiment. The SWV technique achieved trace-level detection of CRZ. A linearity plot was obtained for the concentration range of 1.0 × 10^-7 M to 2.5 × 10^-4 M with a limit of detection of 1.38 × 10^-8 M. The selectivity of the modified sensor was verified by the interference study of metal ions and other pesticides with CRZ. The agricultural and environmental significance of the developed method was successfully tested by estimating CRZ in water and soil samples.

Vertically-Ordered Mesoporous Silica Films Grown on Boron Nitride-Graphene Composite Modified Electrodes for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Carbendazim in Real Samples

Carbendazim (CBZ), a kind of widely used pesticide, is harmful to human health and environmental ecology. Therefore, it is of great importance to detect CBZ in real samples. Herein we report the stable growth of vertically-ordered mesoporous silica films (VMSF) on the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) using boron nitride-reduced graphene oxide (BN-rGO) nanocomposite as an adhesive and electroactive layer. Oxygen-containing groups of rGO and 2D planar structure of BN-rGO hybrid favor the stable growth of VMSF via the electrochemically assisted self-assembly (EASA) method. Combining the good electrocatalytic activity of BN-rGO and the enrichment effect of VMSF, the proposed VMSF/BN-rGO/GCE can detect CBZ with high sensitivity (3.70 μA/μM), a wide linear range (5 nM–7 μM) and a low limit of detection (2 nM). Furthermore, due to the inherent anti-fouling and anti-interference capacity of VMSF, direct and rapid electrochemical analyses of CBZ in pond water and grape juice samples are also achieved without the use of complicated sample treatment processes.

Signal on-off ratiometric electrochemical sensor coupled with a molecularly imprinted polymer for the detection of carbendazim

A stable ratiometric electrochemical sensor is introduced for the selective detection of carbendazim (CBD). Specifically, the proposed sensor employs a Co@Mo₂C bimetallic nanomaterial as the glassy carbon electrode substrate and a layer of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was in situ fabricated on glassy carbon electrode by electropolymerization, with o-aminophenol as the functional monomer and CBD acting as template. A ratiometric MIP sensor was constructed by adding ferrocene (Fc) internal reference directly to the sample solution. The bimetallic nanomaterials provide a large loading platform for the MIP layer through synergistic effects, amplifying the signal. Excellent CBD binding selectivity is achieved by the templating effect of the three-dimensional (3D) MIP layer. The internal standard is added directly to the electrolyte solution to be tested, allowing the new type of ratiometric electrochemical sensor to avoid the cumbersome steps of other methods and reducing the difficulty and human error of the experimental procedure. Combining a ratiometric strategy with a 3D MIP structure realises the dual-signal detection of CBD. The optimised sensor showed an excellent linear relationship between 0.01 and 1 000 μM, with a correlation coefficient of 0.997 and a detection limit of 3.4 nM (S/N = 3).

Specific iodide effect on surface-enhanced Raman scattering for ultra-sensitive detection of organic contaminants in water

Ultra-sensitive detection of target molecules by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is crucial in a wide range of fields but remains a great challenge. In this work, we report a simple and effective protocol for obtaining highly SERS-sensitive probe by mixing iodide with silver sol. The specific iodide effect on the SERS sensitivity is systematically investigated. It is found that, iodide can effectively promote the SERS enhancement of anionic and cationic analytes, and I^- ion has a higher activating effect on SERS than that of Cl^- ion. The as-prepared SERS-active substrate demonstrates excellent enhancement for rhodamine 6G with a high Raman enhancement factor of 1.8 × 10⁸, which allows the detection limit of 1.0 × 10^-13 M. Our findings in this work should be important for the developing of SERS theory and ultra-sensitive detection applications.

Graphene/g-carbon nitride (GO/g-C3N4) nanohybrids as a sensor material for the detection of methyl parathion and carbendazim

The widespread use of methyl parathion (MP) and carbendazim (CBZ) as pesticide molecules for controlling pests and protect crops has added pollution issues; excess usage of these can lead to atmospheric pollution through contaminating water and soil sources. In the present study, detection of these compounds at the trace level was achieved by employing graphene oxide (GO) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) nanohybrid electrode assembly (GO/g-C₃N₄/GCE). The X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) techniques were also used to characterize the materials developed to reveal their purity, crystal structure, and morphology. The complete voltammetric behavior of these analytes was investigated using cyclic voltammetic (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) techniques. The influence of pH was studied and it was noticed that electrochemical response was the highest at pH 7.0 for MP and at pH 4.2 for CBZ. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations could help us to understand the adsorption behavior of MP and CBZ onto the GO and g-C₃N₄ before their degradation due to the electrochemical reactions. SWV technique was helpful in the trace level detection of MP and CBZ. Linearity plots were obtained in the range of concentration from 8.0 × 10^-8 M to 1.0 × 10^-4 M with a limit of detection 0.824 nM for MP and 1.0 × 10^-8 M to 2.5 × 10^-4 M for CBZ with the detection limit of 2.82 nM. Significance of the developed method in the field of agricultural and environmental domains was successfully investigated by monitoring MP and CBZ in water and soil samples, and the obtained results suggested the selectivity, stability, and reproducibility of the newly developed GO/g-C₃N₄/GCE electrode assembly.

Surface functionalization of natural hydroxyapatite by polymerization of β-cyclodextrin: application as electrode material for the electrochemical detection of Pb(II)

A composite material prepared by polymerization of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) on the surface of natural hydroxyapatite using citric acid as cross linker, was employed as electrode material for the detection of Pb(II). Hydroxyapatite was obtained from bovine bones, following a three-step procedure including pre-calcination, chemical treatment with (NH₄)₂HPO_4, and calcination. The structure and morphology of the pristine hydroxyapatite (NHAP_P0.5) and its functionalized counterpart (NHAP_p0.5-CA-β-CD) were examined using XRD, FTIR, and SEM. Upon deposition as thin film on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), the ion exchange ability of NHAP_p0.5-CA-β-CD was exploited to elaborate a sensitive sensor for the detection of lead. The electroanalytical procedure was based on the chemical accumulation of Pb(II) ions under open-circuit conditions, followed by the detection of the preconcentrated species using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. The reproducibility of the proposed method, based on a series of 8 measurements in a solution containing 2 μM Pb(II) gave a coefficient of variation of 1.27%. Significant parameters that can affect the stripping response of Pb(II) were optimized, leading to a linear calibration curve for lead in the concentration range of 2 × 10^-8 mol L^-1 - 20 × 10^-8 mol L^-1 (R² = 0.998). The detection limit (3S/m) and the sensitivity of the proposed sensor were 5.06 × 10^-10 mol L^-1 and 100.80 μA.μM^-1, respectively. The interfering effect of several ions expected to affect the determination of lead was evaluated, and the proposed sensor was successfully applied in the determination of Pb(II) ions in spring water, well water, river water and tap water samples.

Carbon-doped WO3 electrochemical aptasensor based on Box-Behnken strategy for highly-sensitive detection of tetracycline

Aptamer has been proved to be an important probe for antibiotic detection. Here, the electrical signal was doubly amplified by the synergistic effect of C-WO₃ and AuNPs. The probe structure has a specific recognition effect on tetracycline, which improves the selectivity and anti-interference of the sensor. With the assistance of BBD strategy, the experimental errors of the C-WO₃@AuNPs aptasensor were reduced and the best conditions for its preparation were obtained. This was conducive to obtain the best electrical signal transmission capacity of the electrode, greatly improved the sensor sensitivity. Under this mechanism, the antibiotic sensor achieved a low detection range (0.1 nM-100 nM) and a low detection limit (4.8 × 10^-2 nM). The sensor showed excellent selectivity even in the presence of coexisting pollutants. This work explored the mechanism of charge change and demonstrated the role of probes in antibiotic sensing, providing important prospects of future applications in electrochemical sensors.