Enhancing photoelectrochemical performance of ZnInS by phosphorus doping for sensitive detection of miRNA-155.

We report the synthesis of phosphorus-doped ZnInS (ZnInSP) materials through a solid/gas-phase reaction. ZnInSP shows enhanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance due to the improved photo-carrier separation efficiency achieved by substituting some of the sulfur with phosphorus. A PEC biosensor was further developed based on ZnInSP, which exhibits excellent analytical performance for miRNA-155.

A highly sensitive photoelectrochemical VEGF biosensor with a dual signal amplification strategy by using AgVO as a photoactive material.

We developed a novel "signal-on" photoelectrochemical (PEC) aptasensor with a near-zero background signal by using AgVO as a single photoactive material for the sensitive detection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Photoelectrochemical aptamer-based sensing of the vascular endothelial growth factor by adjusting the light harvesting efficiency of g-CN via porous carbon spheres.

A "signal-off" sensor is described for sensitive photoelectrochemical (PEC) determination of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) is used as the signalling material, and porous carbon spheres as efficient quenchers of the photocurrent. The quenching efficiency of carbon spheres is the result of two effects, viz.

Pt incorporated mesoporous carbon spheres: controllable structure with enhanced catalytic activity and stability.

We report a simple synthesis process to prepare well-dispersed Pt nanoparticles incorporated in mesoporous carbon spheres. By manipulating the relative ratio of Pt precursor and resorcinol-formaldehyde resin (RF), Pt/carbon composites with different morphologies and Pt content were achieved. The as-prepared Pt/C composite materials show higher catalytic activity and reusability for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) than the Pt deposited commercial activated carbon (Pt/AC), which can be ascribed to the high dispersion of Pt nanoparticles in the carbon spheres.

A highly sensitive VEGF photoelectrochemical biosensor fabricated by assembly of aptamer bridged DNA networks.

We developed a novel "signal-off" photoelectrochemical (PEC) aptasensor based on an aptamer bridged DNA network structure for the sensitive detection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), using g-CN as photoactive material. The DNA network provides an excellent platform for the immobilization of methylene blue (MB), which can facilitate the electron transport through the DNA helix structure and suppress the recombination of electron-hole pairs generated by g-CN. In the presence of the target VEGF, the DNA network can be destroyed adequately by the recognition between VEGF and the aptamer, resulting in the release of MB.