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Real-time detection of Cu(II) with PEDOT:PSS based organic electrochemical transistors

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Abstract

Copper is an essential element in the environment and the human body, but at the same time, exposure to high concentrations of Cu2+ ions will potentially lead to acute toxicity and various neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, it is of great significance for the development of highly sensitive and selective strategies for the detection of Cu2+ ions. Here, we report a highly efficient poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PEDOT:PSS) based organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) sensor, for real-time Cu2+ ions detection. The detection limit of the OECT device is as low as 100 nM, far beyond the sensitivity required for practical uses. The detection mechanism may base on the chemical reactivity of Cu2+ ions oxiding the PEDOT:PSS in solution both in absence and presence of the base potential. The OECT devices also exhibit excellent selective response to Cu2+ ions rather than other metal ions. Finally, we also demonstrate the determination of Cu2+ ions in tap water with the OECT Cu2+ sensor. Considering the high sensitivity and selectivity, as well as the real-time and low cost features of our Cu2+ OECT sensor, it is ideal for portable and disposable applications for environment monitoring and public health.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Key Science & Technology Specific Projects of Anhui Province (15czz03117), the Funds for Huangshan Professorship of Hefei University of Technology (407-037019), Anhui Science and Technology Research Projects of China (1401b042018), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (JZ2017HGTB0195, JZ2016HGBZ1047).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Food Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China

    Can Xiong, Wei Chen & Lei Zheng

  2. School of Biological and Medical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China

    Hao Qu

  3. Academy of Opto-Electronic Technology, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China

    Lijun Zhang & Longzhen Qiu

  4. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Fan Xia

Authors
  1. Can Xiong
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  2. Hao Qu
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  3. Wei Chen
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  4. Lijun Zhang
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  5. Longzhen Qiu
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  6. Lei Zheng
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  7. Fan Xia
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Correspondence to Hao Qu or Lei Zheng.

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Xiong, C., Qu, H., Chen, W. et al. Real-time detection of Cu(II) with PEDOT:PSS based organic electrochemical transistors. Sci. China Chem. 60, 1205–1211 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-016-9013-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-016-9013-0

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