Fluorescence Sensor Based on Polyaniline Supported Ag-ZnO Nanocomposite for Malathion Detection

Sensitive and selective determination of harmful organophosphate is rigorously fundamental due to its large negative influence on the environment and human health. Ultrasensitive fluorescence nanocomposite was developed for malathion detection which was based on electrostatic interaction between polyaniline and Ag-ZnO nanocomposite. The nanocomposite (Ag-ZnO/PANI) was prepared via the sol-gel technique next in situ oxidative polymerization of polyaniline. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, UV-vis, and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. The fluorescence intensity of the nanocomposite was quenched by MA, which was proportional to the concentration of MA in the range of 0–1000 nM, with a detection limit of 13.2 nM. The proposed method was sensitive, selective, easy in design, and fast in operation. Therefore, it has been effectively used for MA detection in agricultural products with suitable recovery.