Colorimetric sensors are gaining significant interest in various sensing applications for biological and environmental fields, because to their high selectivity, high sensitivity, cost effectiveness, simplicity of use, rapid analysis, ease of use, and visibility to the naked eye. Researchers have developed a variety of colorimetric sensors to detect both organic and inorganic species. Some key areas of application for colorimetric sensors are the detection of organic species, e.g., proteins, amino acids, DNA/RNA, and microorganisms like viruses and bacteria, as well as their widespread exploration for water quality sensing, which is also in the mainstream, e.g., reactive oxygen species, acidity/base and heavy metal ions detections, and use as biomarkers in clinical diagnostics [1][2]. The working principle of colorimetric sensors is based on record of changes in color in the presence of the target analyte, providing real-time detection and highly sensitive direct identification of target analyte. However, existing technologies are limited due to low extinction coefficients and low accuracy of colorimeter due to material limitations [3]. Advanced nanomaterials, such as 2D materials, metal and metal oxide nanoparticles and quantum dots, have significantly aided the development of colorimetric sensors [4]. MXenes are the newest member of 2D material family, discovered in 2011, since then MXenes are under spotlight for their numerous applications due to their high surface area and surface functionality [5]. Herein we demonstrate the Au nanoparticles-decorated, functionalized MXene-based colorimetric sensor prepared at room temperature for colorimetric detection of trace amounts of glycolic acid and thiol glycolic acid in water. In this study, L-Cystine functionalized MXene shows the prominent Au nanocluster growth evident in the 375 nm Au plasmonic peak. This work shows high detection sensitivity and selectivity for glycolic acid and thioglycolic acid in water. Furthermore, this work expands the application of MXene in colorimetric sensors technology and provides a simple analyte sensing platform to open a new avenue for highly sensitive colorimetric sensors for future applications.
Au-MXENE HETEROSTRUCTURE FOR THE COLORIMETRIC SENSING OF BIOMOLECULES
Saqib Ali1, Veronika Zahorodna2, Oleksiy Gogotsi2, Arunas Ramanavicius3, Simonas Ramanavicius1
1 Department of Electrochemical Material Science, State Research Institute Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Sauletekio av. 3, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
2 Materials Research Center, Krzhizhanovskogo street, 3, 03680, Kyiv, Ukraine
3 Department of Nanotechnology, State Research Institute Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Sauletekio av. 3, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
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