Piperidine–calix [4] arene modified gold nanoparticles: Imidacloprid colorimetric sensing

A simple and visible strategy of a highly selective and sensitive for imidaclorid colorimetric probe based on piperidine-calix [4] arene modified gold nanoparticles (PPC-Au NPs) was developed. We synthesized piperidine-calix [4] arene modified gold nanoparticles through click reaction. The use of upper rims of the piperidine-calix [4] arene cavity, imidacloprid molecule would be wrapped up the surface of PPC-Au NPs causing Au NPs to reunion. The detection system presents excellent selective ability (5.0μM) when with a series of interfering pesticides. The developed method was also successfully applied for detecting imidacloprid in tape water with a detection limit of 2.5×10−5M. Thus, we successfully achieved the colorimetric detection for imidacloprid on site and real-time.