Surface Acoustic Wave Sensor Combining Gravimetric and Electrochemical Transductions: Application for Atrazine Detection

Herein we report the development of a chemical sensor based on Molecularly Imprinted Conducting Polymers (MICP) electrosynthesized over the sensing area of a lithium tantalate Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) sensor. In our conditions, MICP films operate as electroactive receptor layers dedicated to the detection of atrazine target molecules. Film formation in the presence of atrazine, atrazine extraction and its further recognition by MICP, are followed by combined surface acoustic wave and electrochemical transductions. Real time simultaneous measurements allow the estimation of the times necessary for the different processes, which are found to be largely inferior to those mentioned in the literature. The developed system allows thus a better understanding of the MICP recognition process.