3DRGO-NiFe2O4/NiO nanoparticles for fast and simple detection of organophosphorus pesticides

Abstract The residues of organophosphorus pesticide (OPs) on fruits and vegetables pose a threat to human health, so it is very meaningful to explore simple and fast detect methods for OPs residual. In this work, nickel ferrite/nickel oxide nanoparticles co-loaded three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide (3DRGO-NiFe 2 O 4 /NiO NPs), as a new low cost nanocomposite, was prepared. Based on its high performance mimetic peroxidase activity, a colorimetric method for the detection of OPs has been developed. Dichlorvos was chosen as model compounds to evaluate the detection performance. The detection linear range for dichlorvos is from 50 μg/mL to 2.5 × 10 4 μg/mL with a detection limit of 10 μg/mL. Furthermore, a test paper can be developed based on the 3DRGO-NiFe 2 O 4 /NiO NPs for visual detection of dichlorvos, and the image information of the paper sensor can be converted into digital signal and quantitative detection by a smartphone. Notably, this method can also be used to detect dichlorvos in real samples, including vegetables and fruits. Thus, the developed naked assay holds great potential in simple, inexpensive and rapid detection of OPs in fruit and vegetable samples.