Ultrasensitive quantification of paraquat using a newly developed sensor based on silver nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Present work introduces a novel electrochemical sensor that developed based on glassy carbon electrode modified by Nafion coating on the multiwall carbon nanotubes decorated with the electrochemically deposited silver nanoparticles, N/AgNP/MWCNT/GCE. Application of the metal nanoparticles and Nafion in the modification of the MWCNTs casted on the GCE surface significantly enhanced the sensitivity and stability of the GCE response toward paraquat (PQ) and omitted or reduced the potential effects of the interferences on the PQ quantification. The proposed procedure showed a wide linear quantification range of 0.1–10 µM with a high sensitivity of 5.47 µA/µM and a very low detection limit of 68 nM. This sensor was employed for PQ determination in real samples with good recovery outcomes. N/AgNP/MWCNT/GCE showed good anti-interfering effect toward the component of the orange juice revealing its applicability for real sample analysis.