A self-probing, gate-controlled, molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor for ultrasensitive determination of p-nonylphenol.

A novel self-probing, gate-controlled, molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor for ultrasensitive and highly selective determination of p -nonylphenol was prepared, based on a GCE electrode modified with Au nanoparticles and multiwalled carbon nanotubes/reduced graphene oxide nanoribbons (MWCNTs@rGONRs). The molecularly imprinted film was produced using p -aminothiophenol as the functional monomer, p -nonylphenol as the template molecule and tetrabutylammonium perchlorate as the supporting electrolyte. The modified electrode had specific recognition for the template molecule and very high electrocatalytical activity for electroreduction of the target molecule. The resulting sensor has been successfully used to determine p -nonylphenol using cyclic voltammetry and cathodic stripping different pulse voltammetry with detection limits of 0.73 pM ( S / N  = 3) and 4.8 fM ( S / N  = 3), respectively. The method demonstrated extremely high sensitivity and selectivity as well as a wide linear range and could be used to detect p -nonylphenol in environmental and food samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]