A Highly Sensitive and Selective Electrochemical Sensor Based on Functionalized Nanomaterials for the Detection of Pesticides and Biomolecules

Abstract

In recent years, pesticide and biomolecule contamination from industrial effluents and illegal activities has severely impacted the environment, food safety, and public health. These toxins enter the food chain through various anthropogenic sources, causing adverse effects on human and animal biological systems. Effective detection and monitoring of these contaminants in food samples are essential. Among the various detection methods, nanomaterial-based electrochemical sensors stand out for their high sensitivity, selectivity, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness, making them an ideal solution for detecting pesticides and biomolecules. newlineIn this research, we developed and characterized multi-functional nanomaterials, including CuO-Nd2O3, Nd2O3-MIL(Fe)-88A, Ni-Ce-Cu-MOF, and ZnO-doped YMoO4, for electrochemical sensing applications. Several analytical techniques were used to characterize the synthesized nanomaterials. In the sensing mechanism, detecting components were adsorbed onto the modified electrode surface which accelerates the electron transfer between the modified electrode and the electroactive center of the component, resulting in the detection of analytes. The research effectively addresses critical gaps in electrochemical sensing by developing multi-functional nanomaterial-based sensors with superior sensitivity, selectivity, and applicability for detecting pesticides and biomolecules. Traditional methods for detecting contaminants often lack the required sensitivity, have limited detection ranges, and are unsuitable for real-time analysis in complex matrices. This study overcomes these challenges by designing and characterizing advanced nanomaterials such as CuO-Nd2O3, Nd2O3-MIL(Fe)-88A, Ni-Ce-Cu-MOF, and ZnO-YMoO4, tailored for specific analyte detection. From DPV analysis, the Limit of detection were calculated at 0.09 nM, 0.92 nM, 1.56 nM, and 14.8 nM for CuO-Nd2O3, Nd2O3-MIL(Fe)-88A, MOF-Ni-Ce-Cu, and ZnO doped YMoO4, respectively. For Malathion detection, the CuO-Nd2O3 sensor showed a detection limi