From vision to precision: molecular nanocage-enabled photoelectrochemical-fluorescent dual-mode PFOS sensing platform
摘要
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), a persistent environmental pollutant, poses significant risks to ecosystems and human health, creating an urgent need for rapid and reliable on-site detection. We present a dual-mode sensing platform integrating visual fluorescence readout with quantitative photoelectrochemical (PEC) analysis, constructed by assembling metal-coordinated molecular nanocages (MN) onto a TiO2 photoelectrode. The MN enables rapid, instrument-free visual identification of PFOS through fluorescence changes, providing straightforward qualitative screening. Meanwhile, the TiO₂/MN interface delivers a sensitive and linear PEC response, enabling highly accurate PFOS quantification with a low limit of detection (~0.16 nM) across complex matrices. The complementary nature of the two modes offers internal signal cross-validation, markedly enhancing detection reliability. Furthermore, the reversible PFOS–MN interaction allows simple regeneration of the sensing interface, supporting sustainable and repeated operation. This dual-mode strategy provides a practical, robust, and field-friendly solution for PFOS monitoring in environmental waters.
Graphical abstract