Non-enzymatic electrochemical sensors based on nanomaterials for detection of organophosphorus pesticide residues

Organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) are one of the most popular pesticides. Once used, they inevitably affect the ecological chains and food chains of water, soil, and foodstuff sources, which can severely damage the ecosystem, and adversely affect human health. The shortcoming of enzymatic sensors, being the way in which enzymes are susceptible and vulnerable to environmental factors, could be compensated for, by using non-enzymatic nanosensors. Thus, it is important to develop effective non-enzymatic methods for the simple and fast analysis of the residues of OPPs. In order to develop new detection methods, a range of nanomaterials are being innovatively used to construct non-enzymatic electrochemical sensors endowed with specificity, selectivity, and cost-effectiveness. Herein, we review the latest research progress in the field of nano-materials and related composites used for the electrochemical non-enzymatic sensing of OPPs. The design method, detection limit, and sensing performances of both non-enzymatic nanomaterials and enzymatic ones were highlighted and compared. The challenges and prospects in this field are found and discussed. Undoubtedly, non-enzymatic sensors for OPP detection will facilitate the increasing demands of food and ecosystem monitoring and safeguarding. Non-enzymatic nanocomposites and their modified electrodes, including carbon nanotubes, graphene, metal nanoparticles, metal oxides, conductive polymers, MOFs and derivatives, molecularly imprinted polymers are discussed in the rapid electrochemical sensing of OPPs.