Molecularly imprinted ratiometric electrochemical sensor based on carbon nanotubes/cuprous oxide nanoparticles/titanium carbide MXene composite for diethylstilbestrol detection

Conventional molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP)-based electrochemical sensors are generally susceptible to the changes of personal operation, electrode surface, and solution conditions. Herein, a ratiometric strategy was employed through introducing Cu2O nanoparticles (NPs) as inner reference probe to realize the reliable detection of diethylstilbestrol (DES). MIP film was prepared by electropolymerization of 1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylicacid in the presence of DES on carbon nanotubes/cuprous oxide/titanium carbide (CNT/Cu2O NPs/Ti3C2Tx) modified electrodes. The Ti3C2Tx with accordion-like structure not only possessed good electrical conductivity, but also facilitated the immobilization of Cu2O NPs, which contributed to stabilizing the signal. CNT was introduced to further improve the sensitivity of the sensor. Under optimum conditions, the MIP/CNT/Cu2O NPs/Ti3C2Tx electrochemical sensors showed a broad linear response range of 0.01 to 70 mu M, and a low detection limit of 6 nM (S/N = 3). Moreover, the sensor was applied to detect DES in real samples including lake water, milk, and pork, and the recoveries for spiked standard were 88-112%. Thus, this work provides a new way for reliable DES detection.

Automated summary

In this study, a reliable detection of DES was achieved through a ratiometric strategy employing Cu2O nanoparticles as inner reference probe. The sensitivity of the sensor was further improved by introducing modified electrodes and CNT. The application of the sensor in real samples demonstrated its high sensitivity and accuracy for DES detection.