A Fenclorim Molecularly Imprinted Electrochemical Sensor Based on a Polycatechol/Ti₃C₂T_x Composite

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Safeners are crucial in agriculture but can release harmful environmental pollutants.
• Developing sensitive analytical methods for safener detection is essential for environmental safety.
• Fenclorim (FM) is a significant safener requiring robust detection techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a sensitive and rapid electrochemical sensor for fenclorim (FM) detection.
• To utilize titanium carbide nanomaterials (Ti3C2Tx) and molecularly imprinted polymers for enhanced sensing capabilities.
• To provide a reliable method for quantifying FM in environmental water samples.

Main Methods:

• Electrochemical deposition of Ti3C2Tx nanomaterials onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE).
• Fabrication of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) via electropolymerization of catechol in the presence of FM.
• Electrochemical characterization using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).

Main Results:

• The MIP/Ti3C2Tx/GCE sensor exhibited a linear response for FM detection from 5 to 300 nM.
• Achieved a low limit of detection (LOD) of 1.56 nM (S/N = 3).
• Demonstrated excellent selectivity, stability, and reproducibility, with successful application in real water samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed MIP/Ti3C2Tx/GCE sensor offers a promising tool for sensitive and selective environmental monitoring of fenclorim.
• This approach provides a rapid and efficient method for safener detection in complex matrices.
• The sensor's performance highlights the potential of nanomaterial-polymer composites in environmental analytical chemistry.