An ingenious molecularly imprinted photo-induced sensor for ultrasensitive determination of sulfadiazine based on the urchin-shaped Bi2S3

Abstract An ingeniously conceived molecularly imprinted photo-induced sensor with polymethacrylic acid (PMAA) embedded into the urchin-shaped Bi2S3 architecture was devised, which was dedicated to sensitive exploring the sulfadiazine (SDZ). One critical procedure is the identification of PMAA and SDZ molecules by hydrogen bonding, and creates copious particular recognition sites upon the elution of SDZ molecules. It is worth mentioning that urchin-shaped Bi2S3 of cuboid nanorods compact stacked can provide a large specific surface area and enable more SDZ molecularly imprinted polymers to be attached or embedded in it. Accordingly, when encountering SDZ molecules again, a sensitive augment of photocurrent signal is captured, which reveals outstanding linear relationship in the concentration domain 0.003–1.8 mg L−1 and the detection limit is calculated to be 9.06 × 10−8 g L−1 (S/N = 3). Moreover, it is gratifying that as-prepared photo-induced sensor exhibits marked selectivity for the analysis of SDZ when exposed certain interfering species with similar configurations. Considerable reproducibility and stability in conjunction with tap water and aquatic water as actual samples of the fabricated photo-induced sensor are further evaluated, corroborating the prominent photoelectrochemical performances. The integrated photo-induced with molecularly imprinted approach will be utilized to probe into these vast unexplored environmental contaminants in this specific, effective and rapid detection manner.