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Enhanced photoelectrochemical sensing based on novel synthesized Bi2S3@Bi2O3 nanosheet heterostructure for ultrasensitive determination of l-cysteine

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Abstract

The design of a low-cost and highly efficient photoactive heterojunction material for sensing is still a challenging issue. On the basis of the formation of sheet-like Bi2O3 via coating Bi2S3, a novel Bi2O3@Bi2S3 heterostructure is controllably synthesized via a facile water bath approach. The prepared Bi2O3@Bi2S3 nanosheets show a superior photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance for the detection of l-cysteine (l-Cys), and the photocurrent signal is three and four times higher than those of Bi2S3 and Bi2O3 under visible irradiation, respectively. Also, the heterostructure presents an outstanding linear range for the detection of l-Cys: 0.1–10,000 μM. In addition, the mechanism of improved PEC response of Bi2O3@Bi2S3 nanosheets is investigated according to the estimated energy band positions. Thus, the integration of the novel heterostructure and the photoelectrochemical technique demonstrates a rapid photocurrent response, showing a great effect on the performance of the sensing system and a new PEC method for highly selective and sensitive chemical detection.

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Acknowledgments

This work received financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21675131), the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing (No. CSTC-2015jcyjB50001), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China (SWU 114089 and XDJK 2014C136).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China

    Feng Xia Wang, Cui Ye, Hong Qun Luo, Jing Rong Chen, Yan Shi & Nian Bing Li

  2. Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong, China

    Shi Mo

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  1. Feng Xia Wang
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Correspondence to Hong Qun Luo or Nian Bing Li.

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The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Southwest University, and written informed consent was obtained from all individuals participating in the study prior to the collection of the human urine samples.

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Wang, F.X., Ye, C., Mo, S. et al. Enhanced photoelectrochemical sensing based on novel synthesized Bi2S3@Bi2O3 nanosheet heterostructure for ultrasensitive determination of l-cysteine. Anal Bioanal Chem 411, 3059–3068 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-019-01765-7

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