Electrochemical behavior and voltammetric detection of fenitrothion based on a pencil graphite electrode modified with reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/poly(E)-1-(4-((4-(phenylamino)phenyl)diazenyl)phenyl)ethanone (DPA) composite film.

A combination of a novel synthesized azo dye (E)-1-(4-((4-(phenylamino)phenyl)diazenyl) phenyl)ethanone and reduced graphene oxide was used to electrochemically modify the surface of a pencil graphite electrode. The surfaces of the modified electrodes were characterized using electrochemical techniques (cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) and spectroscopic techniques (scanning electron microscopy and attenuated total reflectance). This azo dye/reduced graphene oxide modified electrode was applied first time for the electrochemical detection of an organophosphorus pesticide, fenitrothion. The modified pencil graphite electrode displayed excellent performance for the detection of fenitrothion. Cyclic voltammetry was used to study the dependence of the scan rate on the peak current and peak potential and to determine the kinetic parameters for fenitrothion. Square wave voltammetry was used to determine the effect of pH on the peak potential and for the sensitive and selective detection of fenitrothion using the modified electrode. Satisfactory results were obtained with the proposed sensor for the analysis of FT in tomato samples.