Facile engineering of the 2D flaky structured bismuth yttrium oxide for the electrochemical detection of carbofuran in staple food samples

Abstract

The detection of carbofuran (CBF), a highly toxic pesticide, is essential for safeguarding environmental and agricultural systems. In this study, bismuth yttrium oxide (BYO) was synthesized as a new sensor material and employed for the electrochemical monitoring of CBF. Comprehensive characterization using physicochemical analysis revealed a flaky, irregular plate-like morphology with a significant surface area and numerous active sites, contributing to its excellent electrocatalytic properties. Electrochemical techniques, including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), were utilized to assess the material's performance. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy confirmed a low charge transfer resistance (Rct) of 37 Ω, signifying effective electron transfer at the electrode interface. The BYO-modified glassy carbon electrode (BYO/GCE) demonstrated an outstanding sensitivity of 8.9 μA μM−1 cm−2, with a dynamic linear range of 0.09 to 1179.34 μM for CBF in 0.01 M phosphate-buffered solution with pH about 7.0. It achieved an impressive limit of detection (LOD) of 0.0048 μM (4.8 nM) and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.016 μM. The sensor's practical applicability was validated through the successful detection of CBF in spiked agricultural crop samples, underscoring its potential for real-world environmental and food safety monitoring. This work introduces BYO as a novel and highly effective material for electrochemical sensing, offering an innovative approach to pesticide detection in agricultural applications.