A disposable tartrazine sensor fabricated with a synchronously activated nanocomposite comprising gadolinium molybdate nanoflowers anchored on functionalized carbon nanofibers

Abstract

Tartrazine (TRZ) is a synthetic food dye considered noxious to human health and a toxic environmental contaminant owing to the presence of a harmful azo group (–N N–) in its chemical structure. The global necessity to prevent food contamination has led scientific researchers to develop disposable sensing platforms. This study aims to integrate nanotechnology with electrochemistry to fabricate a disposable screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) with a nanocomposite composed of gadolinium molybdate (Gd₂MoO₆) nanoflowers decorated on an enmeshed matrix of acid-functionalized carbon nanofibers (f-CNF). The hierarchal arrangement of distinct components in the nanocomposite is promoted by synergism through the formation of a hybrid heterojunction. This heterojunction in the electrode modifier activates the electrode to sense TRZ with a remarkable limit of detection (0.8 nmol L⁻¹) and quantification (2 nmol L⁻¹) over a broad linear range of 0.025 μM to 216.45 μM. Furthermore, the functional sensing ability of the proposed sensor was analyzed in various commercial food products.