Molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor based on nitrogen-doped hollow mesoporous carbon spheres with PEDOT for selective and ultrasensitive detection of chlorpromazine.

Molecularly imprinted polymer-based electrochemical sensors (MIP/ECS) can achieve efficient detection of trace pollutants, holding broad application prospects in food safety and environmental monitoring. However, MIP/ECS suffers from weak binding forces at imprinted sites and slow electron transfer rates, which severely limit the selectivity and sensitivity of MIP/ECS. In this study, the synergistic effect of nitrogen-doped hollow mesoporous carbon spheres (N-HCS), polydopamine (PDA) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) was utilized in the innovative construction of MIP/ECS with excellent selectivity and electrocatalytic activity for the ultrasensitive detection of chlorpromazine. Systematic experimental studies have confirmed that N-HCS provided a better surface area and tunable mesoporous structure for the rapid transmission of electrons, and the construction of imprinted network. PDA and PEDOT not only construct an imprinted network capable of highly selectively recognizing of chlorpromazine, but also form a donor-acceptor electron system that promotes electron transfer. Consequently, the developed sensor has achieved a lower limit of detection (0.18 nM), a wider detection range (0.0005-85 μM), better stability, and satisfactory practicability in the detection of chlorpromazine. This research provides a new strategy for developing advanced MIP/ECS to pollutant quantification monitoring.