In-site synthesis molecular imprinting Nb2O5 –based photoelectrochemical sensor for bisphenol A detection

• Published in: Biosensors & bioelectronics 2018-12, Vol.121, p.104-110
• Main Authors: Gao, Pan, Wang, Hai, Li, Pengwei, Gao, Wenkai, Zhang, Yu, Chen, Junli, Jia, Nengqin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Molecular imprinting technique; Nb2O5; Photoelectrochemical detection
• ISSN: 0956-5663; 1873-4235
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2018.08.070

In this work, a photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor based on inorganic surface molecular imprinting Nb2O5 (MI-Nb2O5) for detection of bisphenol A (BPA) had been developed. In the PEC sensor, MI-Nb2O5 material was synthesized based on an in-situ surface molecular imprinting technique. The microstructure characteristics of the as-prepared photoactive materials were systematically investigated by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, FTIR and UV–vis spectroscopy. The PEC detection results showed that the MI-Nb2O5 material had higher photocurrent responses and excellent selectivity for contaminant BPA under UV-light irradiation owing to the abundant special recognition sites on the surface of MI-Nb2O5. Besides, the PEC sensor exhibited a wide detection range from 0.01 nmol·L−1 to 30 nmol·L−1 with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.004 nmol·L−1. The interferences test showed that the sensor had a good selectivity to BPA molecules in the different interference solutions. This method combining molecular imprinting technique with photoelectrochemical detection measurement made a successful attempt to detect BPA and supplied a promising way to detect other environment pollutions rapidly and selectively in the future. •Used molecular imprinting technique to enhance the selectivity of PEC system.•Inorganic MIT overcame the disadvantages in traditional PEC detection filed.•In-site synthesis method simplified the complex pretreatment process greatly.•This method supplied a promising way to detect other pollutions in the future.