Synergetic combination of nano hexagons SnS2/Sulfur substituted graphitic carbon nitride: Evaluation of electrochemical sensor for the agricultural pollutant in environmental samples

Abstract

• SnS 2 incorporated on the high defective sites of SGCN via ultrasonic dispersion. • This nanocomposite an displays excellent electroanalytical performance. • It is successfully implemented in the determination of agricultural pollutant CBZ. • An excellent candidate for the real-time applications in environmental samples. In the modern era, pesticide is highly formulated for huge harvest yield in agriculture. Nevertheless, improper disposal of pesticide residues from the industries has severely impacted living beings and poses a serious threat. Thus, researchers are keen to evaluate carbendazim’s complex chemical constituents in food samples through sensitive and selective detection. This study discusses nano hexagon-shaped tin sulfide (SnS 2 ) incorporated on the high defective sites of sulfur-doped graphitic carbon nitride (SGCN), a nanocomposite network prepared via ultrasonic dispersion. It displays low electron transfer resistance, high effective surface area, and excellent film electrode stability. A modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) was implemented to sense the carbendazim (CBZ) residues in environmental samples. Under the optimized conditions, the sensor presents a differential pulse voltammetry current response for CBZ concentration from 0.002 to 416 µmol. L -1 with a nanomolar detection (3 × 10 -8 mol. L -1 ). It also exemplifies high sensitivity (0.1366 µA µM −1 cm −2 ), selectivity, reproducibility, and long-term storage stability. Further, the proposed sensor was implemented to determine CBZ in apple, orange, cucumber, and carrot samples. Good recovery was found using the standard addition method that substantiates the excellent analytical performance of the proposed electrochemical sensor.