Yu, H., Liu, H., Luo, Y., Yang, H., Xie, S., Zhang, Y., Gao, C., Zhang, L., Cui, K., & Yu, J. (2026). A natural-light-operable portable photoelectrochemical sensing platform enabled by synergistic atomic-precise charge flow steering and dual-mechanism sensitization. Chemical Engineering Journal, 527, 171517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.171517
Abstract:
Addressing the growing demand for sensitive, affordable, and portable on-site chemical detection, we present a portable photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing platform operable under natural-light excitation. This platform eliminates the need for external excitation devices or high-end workstations in high-performance PEC sensing, which is achieved by integrating atomic-precise charge flow steering with a dual-mechanism sensitization strategy to amplify signal transduction efficiency under weak excitation. The engineered photoelectrode, γ-Bi2O3-Bi-O tetrahedron-Bi2Ti2O7, features precisely tailored coherent heterointerfaces with atomic-scale Bi-O tetrahedron charge transfer bridges. This unique architecture enables precisely controlled directional charge migration, resulting in a 9.7-fold enhancement in initial photocurrent response. Target introduction triggers our probe (ferritin-Co3O4) to produce a strong light-absorbing product, DPDox. This product markedly shields the incident light, facilitating visual detection. Building upon this reaction, a dual-mechanism sensitization strategy synergistically combining light-shielding and charge-trapping effects is developed to amplify target-induced photocurrent suppression. These advances are seamlessly realized on a paper-based PEC chip, whose ratiometric signal output enables self-calibration to offset natural light fluctuations. Integrating the resulting all-in-one paper chip with a handheld multimeter, the portable PEC sensing platform is realized, achieving reliable dibutyl phthalate detection across a wide range (50 fM-50 nM) with an ultralow detection limit (15 fM). Its performance rivals lab-based PEC systems, positioning it as a promising tool for on-site chemical analysis.
License type:
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
Funding Info:
This research / project is supported by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research - Manufacturing, Trade and Connectivity (MTC) Programmatic funding scheme (M23L8b0049)
Grant Reference no. : M23L8b0049