Carbofuran (CBF) is a widely used carbamate pesticide, but improper application can leave harmful residues in food and pose serious health risks. Research group of Assist. Prof. Dr. Pumidech Puthongkham developed a novel electrochemical sensor based on laser-induced graphene (LIG), modified with laser-fabricated carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and electropolymerized poly(β-alanine). The synergistic modification enhanced edge defects and significantly improved the electrocatalytic performance of the electrode. The sensor has limit of detection of 0.19 µM and was successfully applied to real fruit and vegetable samples).
The 3D porous LIG platform demonstrates a versatile, high-performance sensing strategy enabled by accessible laser fabrication. Beyond carbofuran, the concept based on alkaline hydrolysis opens opportunities for detecting other structurally related pesticides. This work contributes to advancing electrochemical sensing platforms for food and agricultural safety monitoring 
- Prapaporn Sangkaew
- Orawon Chailapakul
- Nadnudda Rodthongkum
- Charles S. Henry
- Pumidech Puthongkham