Surface etched carbon nanofiber companied ytterbium oxide for pinch level detection of fungicides carbendazim

Abstract

The usage of a ytterbium oxide nanorod/carbon nanofiber (Yb₂O₃/f-CNF) hybrid nanocomposite for the electrochemical detection of carbendazim (CBZ) fungicide is demonstrated for the first time in this study. Various physicochemical methods such as Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy have been used to confirm the formation of Yb₂O₃, f-CNF, and Yb₂O₃/f-CNF composite. Different electrode electrochemical characteristics for the detection of CBZ were investigated using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Compared to Yb₂O₃ and f-CNF, the Yb₂O₃/f-CNF nanocomposite had the most significant electrocatalytic activity for CBZ oxidation. The designed sensor has a low detection limit (6 nM) and an extensive linear range (50 nM to 3035 µM) with excellent sensitivity (0.2899 µA µM⁻¹ cm⁻²). Furthermore, the sensor has shown outstanding stability, anti-interference ability, reproducibility, repeatability, and practicability. In addition, these sensor electrodes are simple to make, inexpensive, portable, and effective in detecting CBZ fungicide residues in food and the environment.