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

A sensitive electrochemical method for square-wave voltammetric detection of organophosphate （OP） com- pounds was developed based on zirconia （ZrO2） nanoparticles modified electrode. The electrode was fabricated us- ing electrochemical deposition and characterized by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, which confirmed the successful formation of nanoparticles. Due to the strong affinity of ZrO2 with the phosphoric group, OPs can strongly bind to the surface of ZrO2 nanoparticles （ZrO2NPs）. Under optimized operational conditions, SWV was employed for Omethoate （a model of OP compounds） detection with 5 min absorption, which showed a wide detec- tion range from 98.5 pmoloL-x to 985 nmol·L^1, with a detection limit as low as 52.5 pmol·L^-1. This electrochemi- cal sensor has good selectivity, stability and reproducibility, and great potential in the detection of OP compounds in agriculture area.