Enhanced amperometric sensing for direct detection of nitenpyram via synergistic effect of copper nanoparticles and nitrogen-doped graphene

• A novel sensor for nitenpyram based on Cu NPs/N-G is proposed.
• High sensitivity benefits from the synergistic effect of Cu NPs and N-G.
• Cu NPs/N-G show better electrochemical activity than Cu NPs and N-G for nitenpyram.
• A broad linear range and low detection limit for nitenpyram detection is obtained.

In this work, a novel electrochemical sensing platform has been designed for sensitive determination of nitenpyram on the basis of copper nanoparticles functionalized nitrogen-doped graphene (Cu NPs/N-G) nanocomposites. The Cu NPs/N-G nanocomposites have exhibited high electrocatalytic activity and satisfactory response toward the oxidation of nitenpyram in Britton–Robinson solution, attributing to the synergistic effect of Cu NPs and N-G. The resulting sensor exhibited high sensitivity of 1011 μA mM−1 cm−2 for nitenpyram detection with a wide linear range from 5 μM to 1.11 mM as well as low detection limit of 2.0 μM at signal-to-noise of 3. Moreover, the Cu NPs/N-G nanocomposites showed excellent selectivity and remarkable stability for the oxidation of nitenpyram. The proposed sensor has been successfully applied to the determination of nitenpyram in river water samples with satisfactory results. This can take new opportunities for fast, simple and selective detection of nitenpyram and provide a promising platform for sensor designs for nitenpyram detection.