A self-powered photovoltaic colorimetric detector for sensing metal ions at ultralow concentrations
The accumulation of toxic metal ions from industrial activities poses significant environmental and health risks, thus necessitating the development of portable, rapid, and highly sensitive detection systems. We report a self-powered photovoltaic colorimetric sensor that is capable of detecting Al3+...
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Elsevier
2025-10-01
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| Series: | Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590137025001013 |
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| author | Wan-Jhen Wu Chia-Yu Hsu Shang-Yu Tsai Po-Hsien Tseng Yu-Ting Tai Guan-Ling Hou Yu-Sheng Lai Fu-Hsiang Ko |
| author_facet | Wan-Jhen Wu Chia-Yu Hsu Shang-Yu Tsai Po-Hsien Tseng Yu-Ting Tai Guan-Ling Hou Yu-Sheng Lai Fu-Hsiang Ko |
| author_sort | Wan-Jhen Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The accumulation of toxic metal ions from industrial activities poses significant environmental and health risks, thus necessitating the development of portable, rapid, and highly sensitive detection systems. We report a self-powered photovoltaic colorimetric sensor that is capable of detecting Al3+, Fe3+, and Cu2+ ions at nanomolar concentrations. Traditional spectrometer-based platforms are bulky and unsuitable for onsite applications, whereas conventional colorimetric sensors often suffer from limited sensitivity and poor reproducibility. To address these limitations, we utilize a rhodamine derivative (R6GH) that undergoes a ring-opening reaction upon interaction with target metal ions, which results in a visible color change under green LED illumination. The portable sensor integrates a Schottky junction that is fabricated by depositing gallium-doped zinc oxide (GZO) onto an n-type silicon substrate via atomic layer deposition, which enables the efficient conversion of optical signals into electrical outputs. The device operates in dual detection mode. In voltage mode, the detection limits are 16 nM for Al3+, 22 nM for Fe3+, and 41 nM for Cu2+. In current mode, the respective detection limits are 26, 18, and 34 nM. Compared with conventional chemosensors, this system offers an improvement in sensitivity of up to two orders of magnitude. Additionally, the sensor demonstrates excellent signal reproducibility, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 1.14 % across 560 switching cycles. The combination of high sensitivity, rapid response (<30 s), and stable, self-powered operation makes this device a promising candidate for real-time metal ion monitoring for the future of bioelectronic devices in healthcare. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e42441d41f684d8597acd9b8420a96cd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-1370 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X |
| spelling | doaj-art-e42441d41f684d8597acd9b8420a96cd2025-08-20T03:41:57ZengElsevierBiosensors and Bioelectronics: X2590-13702025-10-012610067410.1016/j.biosx.2025.100674A self-powered photovoltaic colorimetric detector for sensing metal ions at ultralow concentrationsWan-Jhen Wu0Chia-Yu Hsu1Shang-Yu Tsai2Po-Hsien Tseng3Yu-Ting Tai4Guan-Ling Hou5Yu-Sheng Lai6Fu-Hsiang Ko7Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 1001 University Road, Hsinchu, 300093, TaiwanDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 1001 University Road, Hsinchu, 300093, TaiwanDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 1001 University Road, Hsinchu, 300093, TaiwanDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 1001 University Road, Hsinchu, 300093, TaiwanDepartment of Organ-on-Chip Fabrication and Validation, Taiwan Instrument Research Institute, Zhubei City, Hsinchu, 302058, TaiwanDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 1001 University Road, Hsinchu, 300093, TaiwanTaiwan Semiconductor Research Institute, Hsinchu, 300091, TaiwanDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 1001 University Road, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan; Corresponding author.The accumulation of toxic metal ions from industrial activities poses significant environmental and health risks, thus necessitating the development of portable, rapid, and highly sensitive detection systems. We report a self-powered photovoltaic colorimetric sensor that is capable of detecting Al3+, Fe3+, and Cu2+ ions at nanomolar concentrations. Traditional spectrometer-based platforms are bulky and unsuitable for onsite applications, whereas conventional colorimetric sensors often suffer from limited sensitivity and poor reproducibility. To address these limitations, we utilize a rhodamine derivative (R6GH) that undergoes a ring-opening reaction upon interaction with target metal ions, which results in a visible color change under green LED illumination. The portable sensor integrates a Schottky junction that is fabricated by depositing gallium-doped zinc oxide (GZO) onto an n-type silicon substrate via atomic layer deposition, which enables the efficient conversion of optical signals into electrical outputs. The device operates in dual detection mode. In voltage mode, the detection limits are 16 nM for Al3+, 22 nM for Fe3+, and 41 nM for Cu2+. In current mode, the respective detection limits are 26, 18, and 34 nM. Compared with conventional chemosensors, this system offers an improvement in sensitivity of up to two orders of magnitude. Additionally, the sensor demonstrates excellent signal reproducibility, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 1.14 % across 560 switching cycles. The combination of high sensitivity, rapid response (<30 s), and stable, self-powered operation makes this device a promising candidate for real-time metal ion monitoring for the future of bioelectronic devices in healthcare.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590137025001013Metal ion sensingSelf-powered colorimetric sensorSchottky junctionGallium-doped ZnOPortable sensor |
| spellingShingle | Wan-Jhen Wu Chia-Yu Hsu Shang-Yu Tsai Po-Hsien Tseng Yu-Ting Tai Guan-Ling Hou Yu-Sheng Lai Fu-Hsiang Ko A self-powered photovoltaic colorimetric detector for sensing metal ions at ultralow concentrations Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X Metal ion sensing Self-powered colorimetric sensor Schottky junction Gallium-doped ZnO Portable sensor |
| title | A self-powered photovoltaic colorimetric detector for sensing metal ions at ultralow concentrations |
| title_full | A self-powered photovoltaic colorimetric detector for sensing metal ions at ultralow concentrations |
| title_fullStr | A self-powered photovoltaic colorimetric detector for sensing metal ions at ultralow concentrations |
| title_full_unstemmed | A self-powered photovoltaic colorimetric detector for sensing metal ions at ultralow concentrations |
| title_short | A self-powered photovoltaic colorimetric detector for sensing metal ions at ultralow concentrations |
| title_sort | self powered photovoltaic colorimetric detector for sensing metal ions at ultralow concentrations |
| topic | Metal ion sensing Self-powered colorimetric sensor Schottky junction Gallium-doped ZnO Portable sensor |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590137025001013 |
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