Capacitive chemical sensor for fenvalerate assay based on electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymer as the sensitive layer

A capacitive chemical sensor for fenvalerate is reported. By using ac impedance measurements the sensor has been based on the decrease in capacitance caused by the analyte used as the template in the formulation of an electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymer as receptor layer. Improvement of the insulating properties of the sensor was investigated in detail. The capacitive sensor was prepared by a deposition of a self-assembled monolayer of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (2-MBI) before electropolymerization of 2-MBI and subsequent treatment with n-dodecanethiol to eliminate pinholes and defects in the polymerized 2-MBI film. From the calibration curve concentrations of fenvalerate up to 9 mug mL(-1) could be detected with a linear determination range up to 5 mug mL(-1) and a detection limit of 0.36 mug mL(-1). No significant interference was observed from common pyrethroid insecticides.