Copper tungstate nanoparticles for the selective electrochemical detection of organophosphate pesticides

Abstract

Organophosphorus pesticides are now widely used, and their consequences on public health are significant. In this work, unique copper tungstate nanoparticles (CuWO₄ NPs) were successfully prepared and utilized for the selective and sensitive determination of ethyl parathion. The as-prepared CuWO₄ NPs were effectively analyzed using XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, and TEM, which confirmed their compositional and morphological advantages. The newly developed CuWO₄ NPs possess unique properties that enhance electrocatalytic activity via rapid mass transport, several active sites, and increased conductivity. The modified electrode performed well as an electrochemical sensor for detecting ethyl parathion. It had a wide linear range (0.001–790.4 μM), a low detection limit (0.0015 μM), and strong anti-interference abilities. Owing to the rapid electron transport and specific ion adsorption, the developed sensor was also extremely stable and reproducible. This research suggests a viable technique for developing an enhanced ethyl parathion sensor with potential uses in detecting EP in real-world samples.