Highly sensitive and selective electrochemical detection of clothianidin using reduced graphene oxide-anionic pillar[6]arene composite film

On the surface of glassy carbon electrode, electrochemically reduced graphene oxide-anionic pillar[6]arene (ErGO-AP6) composite film is directly constructed using a potentiostatic method. This composite film is used as an electrochemical sensing platform for detecting clothianidin (CLO). Studies on the interaction mechanism reveal a higher supramolecular recognition capability between AP6 and CLO, compared to that between beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and CLO. Owing to the synergistic effect of ErGO and AP6, the ErGO-AP6 composite film shows an outstanding sensitivity and excellent selectivity towards CLO, superior to that of ErGO-beta-CD film. The linear range from 1.0 x 10- 7 to 5.0 x 10(-5) mol L-1 and detection limit of 4.0 x 10(-8) mol L-1 for CLO are achieved. In addition, the presented method is used for fruit and water samples in a recovery test, showing recovery rates between 90.0% and 99.4%. This study provides a promising electrochemical sensing platform for rapid and sensitive analysis of CLO.

Automated summary

This study presents a promising electrochemical sensing platform for rapid and sensitive analysis of clothianidin (CLO) by constructing an electrochemically reduced graphene oxide-anionic pillar[6]arene (ErGO-AP6) composite film on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode. The ErGO-AP6 composite film exhibits higher supramolecular recognition capability between AP6 and CLO compared to beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD), resulting in outstanding sensitivity and selectivity towards CLO.