Sensitive detection of bisphenol A based on resonance energy transfer between zinc oxide nanoparticles enhanced luminol ECL and silver nanoparticles decorated TiVC MXene

Abstract

This present work developed a highly sensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor based on resonance energy transfer between ZnO nanoparticles (ZnONPs) enhanced luminol ECL as the energy donor and silver nanoparticle-modified TiVC MXene (AgNPs@TiVC) as the energy acceptor. ZnONPs were employed as catalysts to facilitate the reaction between luminol and dissolved oxygen, which could amplify the ECL signal of luminol without the need of additional co-reactants. The AgNPs@TiVC composite functioned as the energy acceptor, participating in ECL resonance energy transfer to quench the ECL emission. In the presence of bisphenol A (BPA), the specific recognition by the aptamer could detach the energy acceptor from the electrode surface, resulting in the recovery of ECL signal. The variation of ECL intensity exhibited a good linear relationship with the logarithm of BPA concentration in the range of 0.06 nM–0.08 μM, with a detection limit of 8.9 pM (3σ). This sensor owned satisfactory sensitivity and selectivity, which could further expand the utility of various MXenes in ECL sensing applications.