Self-powered sandwich-type dual-mode sensor built on open bipolar electrode

Abstract

Here, we developed a self-powered bipolar electrode (SP-BPE) based dual-mode sensor with electrochromic (EC) and photoelectrochemical (PEC) techniques for the visualized and sensitive detection of bisphenol A (BPA). An open BPE with the molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) modified electron injection area and the Prussian blue (PB) coated electrochromic area was fabricated on an indium tin oxide (ITO) glass. A kind of Zr-based metal-organic framework (UiO-66) coated TiO2 heterojunction (TiO2@UiO-66) was used for aptamer (Apt) immobilization and electron generation. BPA was selectively accumulated by MIPs, and subsequently recognized TiO2@UiO-66-Apt quantitatively, resulting in the formation of MIPs/BPA/Apt-TiO2@UiO-66 “sandwich” structure. Under UV-light, electrons were generated from the captured TiO2@UiO-66. For EC visualization measurements, electrons were injected into the PB film, causing a color change without an external power source. The extent of color change was proportional to the number of generated electrons, which correlated with the amount of captured BPA within a concentration range of 10−6–10−11 M. This allowed for the semi-quantification of BPA by naked eyes. For PEC detection, the BPE was used as the working electrode in a three-electrode system. The generated photocurrents signals could be digitally output for BPA with the concentrations ranging from 10−5 to 10−11 M. The SP-BPE sensors showed low background signal, improved selectivity and anti-interference abilities, and have demonstrated excellent performance in quantitative BPA analysis in water samples. They are particularly useful in scenarios where traditional power sources are limited or unavailable, and they offer opportunities for sustainable and environmentally friendly target detection.