A Highly Efficient ZrO₂ Nanoparticle Based Electrochemical Sensor for the Detection of Organophosphorus Pesticides

Abstract

Abstract A sensitive electrochemical method for square‐wave voltammetric detection of organophosphate (OP) compounds was developed based on zirconia (ZrO 2 ) nanoparticles modified electrode. The electrode was fabricated using electrochemical deposition and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which confirmed the successful formation of nanoparticles. Due to the strong affinity of ZrO 2 with the phosphoric group, nitroaromatic OPs can strongly bind to the surface of ZrO 2 nanoparticles (ZrO 2 NPs). Under optimized operational conditions, SWV was employed for Omethoate (a model of OP compounds) detection with 5 min absorption, which showed a wide detection range from 98.5 pmol·L −1 to 985 nmol·L −1 , with a detection limit as low as 52.5 pmol·L −1 . This electrochemical sensor has good selectivity, stability and reproducibility, and great potential in the detection of OP compounds in agriculture area.