Modulating Polarization of Perovskite-Based Heterostructures via In Situ Semiconductor Generation and Enzyme Catalysis for Signal-Switchable Photoelectrochemical Biosensing

Polarization of photoactive materials in current photoelectric (PE) systems is difficult to be adjusted, and thus electron-transfer routes of these systems are unchangeable, which limits their performance in photoelectrochemical (PEC) analysis. Herein, we attempted to modulate the polarization of perovskite-based heterostructures by both in situ semiconductor generation and enzyme catalysis. Owing to their band alignments, Cs3Bi2Br9 quantum dots (QDs) and BiOBr are confirmed to construct a Z-scheme structure, leading to a large anodic photocurrent. In the presence of ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (AAP), BiPO4 is generated on the surface of the Cs3Bi2Br9 QDs/BiOBr heterostructure, reassigning energy bands of BiOBr. Accordingly, polarization of the photoactive materials is converted, and a new Z-scheme structure with a reversed electron-transfer route is constructed, which leads to an evident cathodic photocurrent. Furthermore, abundant electron donors can be obtained by catalyzing AAP with alkaline phosphatase (ALP). In this case, photogenerated holes in BiOBr are preferentially annihilated by electron donors, thereby blocking transfer of photogenerated electrons in the Cs3Bi2Br9 QDs/BiOBr/BiPO4 heterostructure. Consequently, a second polarization conversion is triggered by enzyme catalysis, resulting in the recovery of an anodic photocurrent. Benefited from the polarization conversion, a PEC biosensor with a feature of two-wing signal switch is designed, which remarkably enlarges the range of the signal response and subsequently improves the analytical performance. As a result, ALP in small volume of human serum can be quantified with this method. In this work, polarization of perovskite-based photoactive materials is tuned, proposing an alternative perspective on the design of advanced PE systems.

Automated summary

The polarization of perovskite-based heterostructures was modulated using in situ semiconductor generation and enzyme catalysis, resulting in a new Z-scheme structure with reversed electron-transfer route. The designed PEC biosensor with a two-wing signal switch significantly expanded the signal response range and improved analytical performance.