title: New Photocathodic Analysis Platform with Quasi-Core/Shell-Structured TiO2@Cu2O for Sensitive Detection of H2O2 Release from Living Cells.
abstract: In this work, we clearly demonstrate for the first time the use of a p-type semiconductor, Cu2O, as the core unit of a photocathode to set up a new photocathodic analysis platform. With the help of a facile protection strategy, the Cu2O photocathode presented efficient photoelectrochemical performance for H2O2 sensing with a detection limit of 0.15 μM, which allowed the new photocathodic analysis platform to detect H2O2 released from living tumorigenic cells, thus demonstrating its potential application as a sensitive cancer detection probe. The protected TiO2 layer was coated on Cu2O to form a quasi-core/shell structure (TiO2@Cu2O) through a facile sol-gel method, which significantly enhanced the photostability, comparable to the TiO2@Cu2O samples prepared by a complicated atomic layer deposition method. In this new photocathodic analysis platform, the semiconductive metal oxides accomplish a job usually completed by conductive noble metals in an electroanalysis process. We believe that this photocathodic detection strategy opens up a new detection approach, extends the application range of semiconductor materials, and thus sheds light on the further fusing of photoelectrochemical technique with analytical methods.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University , 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200241, China.
authors.forename: Zhenzhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University , 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200241, China.
authors.forename: Yanmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University , 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200241, China.
authors.forename: Zhonghai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival; D002477:Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D004566:Electrodes; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010316:Particle Size; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D012666:Semiconductors; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: C009495:titanium dioxide; D003300:Copper; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D014025:Titanium; C030973:cupric oxide