Probe –integrated electrochemical sensing platform for measuring trace levels of parathion pesticides residues in water using Au- nanoparticles anchored Nafion nano composite modified glassy carbon electrode

Nanomaterial represents a principal driver to the adoption of electrochemical sensors for pesticides residues in water. Thus, the current strategy reports facile and highly sensitive electrochemical probe for monitoring parathion residues in water. The probe was based upon the use of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized Nafion nanocomposites modified glassy carbon electrode (Au NPs/Nafion/GCE). The surface morphology, effective surface area and electrocatalytic performance of the Au NPs/Nafion/GCE were recorded and assigned using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electronic spectra. A straightforward protocol based upon combination of Au NPs/Nafion/GCE and square wave- adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry at pH 7.0 was established for parathion detection. The probe displayed two linear responses between the catholic peak current (i_p,c) at − 0.8 V versus parathion concentrations over the ranges from 1.07 × 10⁻⁶ - 1.07 × 10⁻⁵ and 1.99 × 10⁻⁹ - 9.0 × 10⁻⁷ M with limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 6.06 × 10⁻¹⁰ M and 2.0 × 10⁻⁹ M, respectively. The probe exhibited excellent reproducibility, repeatability with RSD of ± 0.5% (n = 5) at 8.0 × 10⁻⁷ M parathion. The probe was applied for parathion detection in water and validated by HPLC. The experimental Student t_exp and F_exp values were less than the tabulated t_tab (2.78) and F_tab (6.39) at 95% probability.