A robust electrochemical sensor based on AgNWs@MoS2 for highly sensitive detection of thiabendazole residues in food samples

Thiabendazole (TBZ), a highly toxic phosphorothioate insecticide commonly used in postharvest fruit management, has the potential to cause detrimental effects on human health as an endocrine disruptor. In this study, an electrochemical sensor was developed to detect TBZ by modifying MoS₂ on silver nanowires (Ag NWs@MoS₂) and integrating them onto a glassy carbon surface. Cyclic voltammetry revealed that TBZ underwent an irreversible, diffusion-controlled process on Ag NWs@MoS₂, leading to a two-fold increase in peak current compared to unmodified MoS₂. Square wave voltammetry facilitated TBZ detection, and the sensor exhibited a linear range of 0.05–10 μM with a high coefficient of determination (R² = 0.9958) and a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.75 nM (signal-to-noise ratio = 3). The sensor's applicability for food safety monitoring was verified through TBZ analysis in pear and apple samples, achieving recoveries of 95.5–103.6% with RSDs in the range of 1.98–3.25%.