Photoelectrochemical Clothianidin Detection Based on a WO3/CdS Heterostructure Coated with a Molecularly Imprinted Thin Film

Abstract

AbstractClothianidin is an effective neonicotinoid insecticide and is harmful to human health. It is urgent to develop convenient analytical methods to determine clothianidin. In this study, a label‐free photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor for clothianidin was proposed. A type‐II WO3/CdS heterojunction was prepared by chemical bath deposition method to enhance the photoelectric response. As a recognition element, the molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) film was formed on WO3/CdS by electropolymerization of o‐phenylenediamine functional monomer in the presence of clothianidin template. Owing to the high photoelectric conversion efficiency of WO3/CdS heterostructure and the specific recognition ability of MIP, the as‐prepared PEC sensor exhibits desirable analysis performance for clothianidin with high sensitivity and selectivity. This MIP‐PEC sensor offers a wide linear detection range from 1.0 nM to 5.0 μM with a detection limit of 0.4 nM. The proposed sensor combines the merits of MIP and semiconductor heterojunction, presenting a promising prospect in the field of analysis.