A molecularly imprinted photoelectrochemical sensor based on the use of Bi2S3 for sensitive determination of dioctyl phthalate.

A molecularly imprinted polymer photoelectrochemical (MIP-PEC) sensor based on bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) is described for the determination of the plasticizer dioctyl phthalate (DOP). Bi2S3 was used as the photoelectrical converter of the sensor, and visible light was utilized as the excitation source. The molecular imprinting film was prepared through the electropolymerization of monomers in the presence of DOP. Under optimal experimental conditions, the photoelectrochemical response was linearly proportional to the logarithm of the DOP concentration in the 0.5-70 pM DOP concentration range, and the detection limit was 0.1 pM. The method is highly stable and reproducible. It was applied to the determination of DOP in spiked water samples. Graphical abstract A novel molecularly imprinted photoelectrochemical sensor with high sensitivity and high selectivity based on Bi2S3 was developed for dioctyl phthalate detection. Bi2S3 was firstly used as a photoelectric converter in photoelectrochemical sensor to improve the sensitivity of the sensor. Combining photocurrent measurement with molecular imprinting technique makes the sensor highly selective.