Hard template assisted synthesis of iron-cobalt phosphide core-shell for the enhanced electrochemical detection of fenitrothion

Pesticides have an unprecedented concern in food safety as bioaccumulation occurs in the human body and causes various side effects. The electrochemical sensor attracts researchers with quick response, higher accuracy, and ease of carry for on-site detection. Herein, we prepare the hard template-assisted synthesis of Iron-Cobalt Phosphide (FCP) Core-shell for the electrochemical detection of fenitrothion (FN). The core–shell morphology of FCP supports with the enhancement of intrinsic activity, such as excellent mass transfer toward the electrochemical detection of FN with the glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) analysis of FN using FCP/GCE tested with the range of 0.001 to 850 µM of FN, the superior catalytic activity of FCP/GCE achieves the limit of detection (LoD) and sensitivity of 38.1 nm and 1.122 µA µM−1 cm−2 respectively. Moreover, the FN analysis using FCP/GCE tested with the vegetable samples achieves excellent recovery results of FN with the grapes, tomato, corn, and cauliflower samples. The results of the repeatability, reproducibility, and storage stability test of FCP/GCE suggest the excellent practical feasibility of the FCP/GCE sensor.