Electrochemical sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymer reduced graphene oxide and gold nanoparticles modified electrode for detection of carbofuran

A new molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor was fabricated based on glassy carbon electrode decorated by reduced graphene oxide and gold nanoparticles (rGO@Au) for the detection of carbofuran (CBF). The molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared on the electrode surface with CBF as the template molecule, methyl acrylic acid as the functional monomer, and ethylene glycol maleic rosinate acrylate (EGMRA) as a cross-linker. The sensor was studied with respect to its response to hexacyanoferrate as a probe and characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Under the optimum conditions, the peak current of the sensor and CBF concentration showed a good linear relationship over the range from 5.0 × 10−8 to 2.0 × 10−5 mol/L, with a detection limit of 2.0 × 10−8 mol/L (S/N = 3). The sensor exhibited high adsorption capacity and good selectivity for CBF and it was successfully applied to the detection of CBF in real vegetable samples.