Photoelectrochemical Clothianidin Detection Based on a WO3/CdS Heterostructure Coated with a Molecularly Imprinted Thin Film

Clothianidin is an effective neonicotinoid insecticide and is harmful to human health. It is urgent to develop convenient analytical methods to determine clothianidin. In this study, a label‐free photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor for clothianidin was proposed. A type‐II WO3/CdS heterojunction was prepared by chemical bath deposition method to enhance the photoelectric response. As a recognition element, the molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) film was formed on WO3/CdS by electropolymerization of o‐phenylenediamine functional monomer in the presence of clothianidin template. Owing to the high photoelectric conversion efficiency of WO3/CdS heterostructure and the specific recognition ability of MIP, the as‐prepared PEC sensor exhibits desirable analysis performance for clothianidin with high sensitivity and selectivity. This MIP‐PEC sensor offers a wide linear detection range from 1.0 nM to 5.0 μM with a detection limit of 0.4 nM. The proposed sensor combines the merits of MIP and semiconductor heterojunction, presenting a promising prospect in the field of analysis. A label‐free photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor for clothianidin was constructed. A type‐II WO3/CdS heterojunction was used as photoactive material to promote the separation of photocarriers and enhance the photoelectric response. Molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) was applied as a recognition element to specifically identify clothianidin. This sensing platform combines the advantages of PEC method and MIP technology and can detect clothianidin in a wide concentration range with high sensitivity and selectivity.