Abstract: Based on the room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) peculiarity of Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots (QDs), a bifenthrin sensor was fabricated which simultaneously coupled the molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) on the surface of silane modified the QDs via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The stepwise synthesis was realized with the ZnS QDs-NH2-Br as initiator, methacrylic acid (MAA) as the functional monomer, divinylbenzene (DVB) as the cross-linker, CuBr as the catalyst and 2,2'-bipyridine as the complexant. The smart RTP probe for bifenthrin was gained by surface molecular imprinting technology (SMIT) that can not only prepare the stable RTP intensity of Mn-doped ZnS QDs, but also improve the more efficient recognition of the target molecule. The results presented that its detection limit was 16.7 μg/L. The RTP stability, selectivity and sensitivity of the bifenthrin sensor were evaluated by using a spectrophotometer. In addition, high sensitivity was due to electron-transfer mechanism between target and QDs, and particular selectivity was due to SMIT. Therefore, this novel strategy takes the best aspects of them and combines RTP of Mn-doped ZnS QDs with ATRP. Its advantages are straightforward preparation and processing, fast response, low toxicity and optical stability, so it is very promising in detecting bifenthrin