Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) arrays were used for electrochemical sensor to detect sulfadimidine (SM2) residue in food. NiCo2O4 nanoneedle arrays were decorated on the free-standing and highly conductive 3D graphene by a hydrothermal process. Polypyrrole (PPy) was coated onto NiCo2O4 nanoneedle arrays via electropolymerization in the presence of template molecule SM2 to obtain MIP/NiCo2O4 nanoneedle/3D graphene electrode. The desirable detectability of the composite electrode can be ascribed to the unique structure and the synergistic effects of the components: Nanoneedle arrays on 3D graphene offered the matrix to MIP and each nanoneedle as sensing unit was accessible to analyte, resulting in high specific surface area, desirable conductivity, short ion diffusion path and excellent adsorption capacity, which could powerfully boost the electrochemical property for the detection of SM2. Under optimized conditions, a wide linear range over SM2 of 0.2-1000 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.169 ng/mL (S/N = 3) was obtained. The developed sensor also had favorable recovery of 92.3-102.23% and the relative standard deviation of 2.27-4.10%. The MIP array sensor provided an efficient tool for the selective and rapid detection of SM2 in food
Template and target information: sulfadimidine, SM2