Impact of gadolinium oxide with functionalized carbon nanosphere: A portable advanced electrocatalyst for pesticide detection in aqueous environmental samples

In this study, we developed a portable electrochemical sensor for realizing the pesticide residue in biological, environmental, and vegetable samples. A lower concentration of carbendazim pesticide (CBZ) was electro-chemically exposed by newly developed gadolinium oxide/functionalized carbon nanosphere modified glassy carbon electrode (Gd2O3/f-CNS/GCE). The Gd2O3/f-CNS composite was prepared by two-pot ultrasonic-assisted co-precipitation method and characterized by various physicochemical analytical techniques. In addition, the electrocatalytic activity of the composite was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) towards the detection of CBZ. Besides, the Gd2O3/f-CNS/GCE exhibited excellent electrocatalytic capability and sensitivity towards the oxidation of CBZ due to its high electrochemical active surface area, good conductivity, and fast electron transfer ability. A wide linear range of CBZ (0.5-552 mu M) was attained with a low level of detection (LOD) of 0.009 mu M L-1 and exceptional stability of 93.41%. The proposed sensor exemplifies practical feasibility in blood serum, water, and vegetable samples with an remarkable recovery range of 96.27-99.44% and primary current response of similar to 91% after 15 days.

Automated summary

This study successfully developed a portable electrochemical sensor for detecting pesticide residues in biological, environmental, and vegetable samples, with a focus on CBZ detection. The sensor exhibited excellent electrocatalytic capability and stability, making it a feasible option for practical applications.