Development of ion-sensitive field-effect transistor-based sensors for benzylphosphonic acids and thiophenols using molecularly imprinted TiO2 films

Molecularly imprinted polymeric membranes, containing artificial recognition sites for a number of benzylphosphonic acid derivatives, were prepared by the polymerization of titanium(IV) butoxide in the presence of a titanium(IV) phosphonate complex. Reference polymers were prepared in the same manner but in the absence of the phosphonate template. FTIR spectroscopy was used to follow the formation of a benzylphosphonic acid–Titanium(IV) oxide complex during the imprinting process, and upon the association of the substrate in the imprinted TiO2 thin film. The imprinted polymers were examined as sensing membranes in an ionsensitive field-effect transistors (ISFETs). The sensors reveal selectivity towards analyzing the imprinted substrates, yet the recognition ability of the sensors strongly depends on the substituents associated with the phosphonic acid structures. The response time of the sensors is ca. 45 s, and the sensors reveal unaffected stability for at least 2 weeks. Also, imprinted TiO2 films for thiophenol, and para-nitrothiophenol were generated on ISFET devices, and the respective substrates were selectively sensed by the functional devices.