Nanoengineered Hierarchical Cobalt-Nickel-Tungstate-Anchored Polypyrrole Nanocomposite for the Electrochemical Determination of Antiscald Agent in Food Samples: Diphenylamine

Advancements in nanotechnology, material science, and custom engineering of recognition components have facilitated the production of reliable electrochemical sensors. In this specific scenario, the current investigation presents the synthesis of bimetallic cobalt nickel tungstate (CNWO) nanoparticles using hydrothermal synthesis. Additionally, the electrochemical performance of these nanoparticles and their composite with polypyrrole (PPY), as a conducting polymer, as an electrode material is also reported. The CNWO-PPY nanocomposite was successfully modified on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) as an electrocatalyst for the electrochemical detection of diphenylamine (DPA). DPA is extensively used as a preservative on a global scale to inhibit fruit deterioration and surface scalding during storage. Precise identification and quantification of DPA residues in treated fruits are crucial due to the adverse impact of excessive concentrations of DPA on human health. The electrochemical redox mechanism of DPA is based on the electro-polymerization process. The electrochemical analyses demonstrate that the hybrid nanocomposite displays better electrical conductivity and electrocatalytic performance due to the synergistic interaction between CNWO nanoparticles and layered PPY. The proposed electrode achieved a wide linear range of 0.01–861 μM and a low detection limit of 0.0054 μM and sensitivity (1.58 μA μM^–1 cm^–2) for the redox performance of DPA by different pulse voltammetry (DPV). Furthermore, CNWO-PPY/GCE was subsequently utilized to ascertain the impact of DPA on the food samples. The framework presented here demonstrates a viable approach to improving electrochemical applications.