Voltammetric nano-molar range quantification of agrochemical pesticide using needle-like strontium pyrophosphate embedded on sulfur doped graphitic carbon nitride electrocatalyst

The development of a viable sensor for agrochemical pesticides requires the assessment of trace levels. To achieve this, we developed a diphenylamine (DPA) sensor using needle-like strontium pyrophosphate embedded in sulfur-doped graphitic carbon nitride (SrPO/SCN). We obtained needle-like SrPO/SCN nanocomposite through co-precipitation followed by ultrasonication. The formation of the SrPO/SCN nanocomposite was verified through FT-IR, XRD, XPS, SEM-EDX, and HR-TEM analyses. Additionally, we explored their electrochemical behavior towards DPA using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The SrPO/SCN nanocomposite-modified electrode exhibited a higher anodic peak current (15.47 mu A) than those of the other modified and unmodified electrodes. Under optimal experimental conditions, SrPO/SCN/GCE demonstrated a good limit of detection (0.009 mu mol/L), dynamic linear range (0.05-98 mu mol/L), and sensitivity (0.36 mu A mu M(-1)cm(-2)). Furthermore, the developed sensor exhibited excellent reproducibility, selectivity, and stability, and successfully detected DPA in real samples, including pear and apple samples, with good recoveries.

Automated summary

A viable sensor for agrochemical pesticides was developed using needle-like SrPO/SCN nanocomposite. The sensor exhibited high sensitivity, selectivity, and stability, and successfully detected DPA in real samples.