Development of molecularly imprinted polymer films used for detection of profenofos based on a quartz crystal microbalance sensor

A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor based on molecularly imprinted ultra-thin films was developed for detecting profenofos in real samples. Films prepared by physical entrapment (MIP-A) and in situself-assembly (MIP-B) were compared. The results indicated that the best sensing signal was obtained through the in situself-assembly method. The QCM sensor chip was pretreated with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM), and then polymer films were immobilized directly on the SAM using surface-initiated radical polymerization. In this paper, all detection experiments were taken in air. The reaction was processed in solution, and the electrode was washed with deionized water and dried with N2 before QCM measurement. The film was characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), AC impedance and cyclic voltammetry. Analysis of the QCM response in the presence of different concentrations of profenofos showed a good linear correlation during 1.0 × 10−8 to 1.0 × 10−5 mg mL−1 (y = 5log x + 42.5, R = 0.9960) and 1.0 × 10−5 to 1.0 × 10−3 mg mL−1 (y = 25.86log x + 146, R = 0.9959), respectively. The MIP-QCM sensor was used to detect profenofos in tap water, and showed good recovery and repeatability.