Engineered α-zirconium phosphate embedded with defect rich zirconia as a high-performance electrochemical sensor for...

Diethofencarb (DFC) is a commonly utilized carbamate fungicide, and its overuse presents considerable environmental and food safety issues, notwithstanding the approved maximum residue limit of 1 mg/kg. In this research, we created a very effective electrochemical sensor using an α-ZrP/ZrO₂ nanocomposite synthesized via a hydrothermal route for the rapid and sensitive detection of DFC. The enhanced sensing performance originates from the synergistic heterointerface between layered α-ZrP and defect-rich ZrO₂ nanoparticles, which increases the electroactive surface area, facilitates rapid electron transfer, and improves ion diffusion. The composite exhibited high conductivity, improved ion diffusion, a large electroactive surface area, and faster electron-transfer kinetics, all of which contributed to its superior sensing performance. The purity, crystallinity, and uniform formation of the hybrid material were validated by structural and morphological investigations. Voltammetry studies were used to electrochemically characterize the modified glassy carbon electrode, and they revealed a strong synergistic interaction between α-ZrP and ZrO₂. The sensor demonstrated a wide linear detection range of 0.01-1175 μM and an ultralow detection limit of 1.2 nM using differential pulse voltammetry. Furthermore, the platform exhibited excellent analytical reliability, with recoveries ranging from 98.3% to 99.6% in real food and water samples and low relative standard deviations (RSDs) below 1.2%, confirming its high accuracy, repeatability, and suitability for real-time monitoring of DFC residues. These findings underscore the mechanistic advantages of the α-ZrP/ZrO₂ heterostructure and its potential for real-time detection of DFC residues in agricultural and environmental contexts.