Depok, 9 February 2026 \u2014 The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI), has once again achieved global recognition through its research on the development of sensors for detecting pesticide residues in food. A research article by a lecturer from the Department of Chemistry, FMIPA UI, Dr. Munawar Khalil, entitled \u201cUltrasensitive Non-Enzymatic Electrochemical Detection of Paraoxon-Ethyl in Fruit Samples Using 2D Ti\u2083C\u2082T\u2093\/MWCNT-OH,\u201d has been selected as one of the Most Popular 2025 Articles in the journal Nanoscale, published by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), United Kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Most Popular Articles collection features articles that were the most read and downloaded throughout 2025. The selection of this article indicates that FMIPA UI\u2019s research has attracted significant attention from the international scientific community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This research is the result of a cross-institutional collaboration involving FMIPA UI, IPB University (Institut Pertanian Bogor), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and A*STAR Singapore. This collaboration enabled the use of advanced research facilities and facilitated the exchange of expertise across countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis collaboration enriched the research perspective and helped maintain high research standards, from experimental design through to publication in a reputable journal,\u201d Khalil said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The research offers an innovative solution to support food safety, particularly for horticultural products. The developed sensor is capable of rapidly, stably, and accurately detecting pesticide residues, and is designed to be user-friendly and relatively cost-effective. This technology has the potential to be applied as a direct screening tool in traditional markets, distribution centers, and field monitoring activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe directed this research to address real-world needs in the field, namely a sensitive and stable pesticide residue detection method that does not rely on enzymes,\u201d said Dr. Munawar Khalil. According to him, the non-enzymatic approach makes the sensor more resistant to temperature and pH variations, while also being more cost-effective compared to enzyme-based sensors that are commonly used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The research forms part of the master\u2019s thesis of Asmi Aris, a graduate student in the Master\u2019s Program (MSc) of the Department of Chemistry, FMIPA UI. The study focuses on the development of an electrochemical sensor based on a two-dimensional composite material consisting of MXene (Ti\u2083C\u2082T\u2093) and Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs). The combination of these materials was shown to enhance electrode conductivity and activity, enabling the sensor to detect the pesticide paraoxon-ethyl at extremely low levels, down to approximately 10 nanomolar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asmi revealed that the research process involved complex technical challenges, particularly during the synthesis of MXene materials. \u201cThe etching process of Ti\u2083C\u2082T\u2093 involves hazardous chemicals such as HF, so it must be carried out with great care and in strict compliance with safety regulations. In addition, the relatively long synthesis time demands precision and consistency to ensure that the resulting material is truly suitable for sensor applications,\u201d Asmi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another challenge arose in determining the optimum composition of the Ti\u2083C\u2082T\u2093\/MWCNT-OH nanocomposite. Differences in the characteristics of two-dimensional and one-dimensional materials affect the electrode\u2019s surface area, conductivity, and functional groups. \u201cThe composition must be specifically tailored to the target analyte\u2014in this case, paraoxon-ethyl\u2014to ensure high sensitivity and selectivity of the sensor,\u201d Asmi explained. She added that during real-sample testing, such as fruit samples, the complexity of the sample matrix also posed a separate challenge due to potential interference from other compounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Going forward, the research team plans to further develop the sensor to enhance its stability and efficiency, as well as to enable its application to a wider range of food samples. \u201cWe hope this technology can be used directly in the field and make a tangible contribution to food safety monitoring systems,\u201d Asmi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This achievement further underscores FMIPA UI\u2019s role as a research institution that actively contributes at the global level, with research that is not only scientifically excellent but also highly relevant to societal needs.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Depok, 9 Februari 2026 \u2014 Fakultas Matematika dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI) kembali mencatatkan capaian di tingkat global melalui riset pengembangan sensor pendeteksi residu pestisida pada pangan. Artikel penelitian dosen Departemen Kimia FMIPA UI, Dr. Munawar Khalil, berjudul \u201cUltrasensitive non-enzymatic electrochemical detection of paraoxon-ethyl in fruit samples using 2D Ti\u2083C\u2082T\u2093\/MWCNT-OH\u201d terpilih sebagai […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17704,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,194],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17703","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-berita","category-mipa-update"],"blocksy_meta":[],"yoast_head":"\n