Preparation of Gd2O3 Hollow Nanospheres for Electrochemical Detection of Methyl Parathion

The routine analysis and detection of organophosphate pesticides (OPPs) in consumer products has become an important activity, due to organophosphate insecticides' extensive applications in agriculture and pest control. We have prepared Gd2O3 hollow nanospheres to fabricate the modified electrode for enzyme-free detection of methyl parathion (MP), one of the most commonly used OPPs. The electrochemical responses of MP on the Gd2O3 hollow nanosphere modified glassy carbon electrode (Gd2O3/GCE) were investigated in detail. Furthermore, the current of the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) is linear, with the MP concentration moving from 0.05 μM to 100 μM. It is demonstrated to be a sensitive and simple electrochemical method for the sensing of MP with a low detection limit (0.03 μM). The as-prepared electrode also shows a long-time stability and an acceptable selectivity. The Gd2O3/GCE is applicable for detecting MP in real samples, such as vegetables, tap water, and paddy field water, with satisfactory results. Therefore, the proposed method is promising for the routine analysis and detection of MP residues in foods and environments.