Room-Temperature Phosphorescence Sensor Array for Detection and Discrimination of Neonicotinoid Insecticides based on Host-Guest Doping

Abstract

Detection and discrimination of neonicotinoid insecticides (NNI) are highly desired but still a challenging task, due to the minor difference in molecular structures among massive subtypes of NNI. In this work, a room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) sensor array for the detection and discrimination of NNI was fabricated aided by a host-guest doping strategy. NNI was doped into the boric acid host, which prompted their RTP intensities, through inhibiting the molecular motion, narrowing the energy gap between singlet and triplet states, and providing rigid protection structures. A sensor array was fabricated through integrating the RTP intensities and emission lifetimes Five types of NNI were quantitatively detected and discriminated by using statistical algorithms. Aided by the delayed collection model of RTP signal, the sensor array also showed excellent detection performances in practical food samples. These results opened a new door for designing detection route, showing great potential for applications in food analysis.