Ultra-sensitive boscalid sensors based on a β-cyclodextrin modified perfluorinated copper phthalocyanine field-effect transistor

Abstract

The increasing use of pesticides has raised concerns about the risks of exposure to pesticides. Rapid, simple and sensitive detection of pesticides is still a challenge in the current analytical technology. Herein, a perfluorinated copper phthalocyanine (F₁₆CuPc) organic field-effect transistor (OFET) modified by β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was used to detect boscalid molecules in solution. As a molecular carrier, β-CD will capture boscalid to form an inclusion complex. The hydroxyl group in β-CD and the carbonyl group in boscalid form a dipole–dipole interaction with F₁₆CuPc, which induces more carriers in the device channel, which finally manifests as a significant increase in the maximum current of the device. When using β-CD as the modification layer, the detection limit of the device can be as low as 2.40 × 10⁻¹¹ g L⁻¹, which is 5 orders of magnitude lower than the internationally permitted MRL value.