Anti-fouling TiO₂-Coated Polymeric Membrane Ion-Selective Electrodes with Photocatalytic Self-Cleaning Properties

Abstract

Nowadays, using a polymeric membrane ion-selective electrode (ISE) to achieve reliable ion sensing in complex samples remains challenging because of electrode fouling. To address this challenge, we describe a polymeric membrane ISE with excellent anti-fouling and self-cleaning properties based on surface covalent modification of an anatase TiO2 coating. Under ultraviolet illumination, the reactive oxygen species produced by photocatalytic TiO2 can not only kill microorganisms but also degrade organic foulants into carbon dioxide and water, and a formed superhydrophilic film can effectively prevent the adsorption of foulants, thus inhibiting the occurrence of biofouling and organic fouling of the sensors. More importantly, residual foulants could be fully self-cleaned through the flow of water droplets. By using Ca2+-ISE as a model, an anti-fouling polymeric membrane potentiometric sensor has been developed. Compared to the unmodified electrode, the TiO2-coated Ca2+-ISE exhibits remarkably improved anti-biofouling properties with a low bacterial adhesion rate of 4.74% and a high inhibition rate of 96.62%. In addition, the proposed electrode displays unique properties of anti-organic dye fouling and a superior self-cleaning ability even after soaking in a concentrated bacterial suspension of 109 CFU mL–1 for 60 days. The present approach can be extended to improve the fouling resistance of other electrochemical or optical membrane sensors and is promising for the construction of contamination-free sensors.

Let’s Talk about Slime; or Why Biofouling Needs More Attention in Sensor Science

“…Future chemical modifications at the sensor surface could combine nanostructures with covalently linked biocides or photoctalysts . Also, the use of biomimetic approaches, such as using nature inspired patters like shark skin, − appears promising.…”

A Wearable Electrochemical Sensor Based on Anti-Fouling and Self-Healing Polypeptide Complex Hydrogels for Sweat Monitoring

“…Harshman et al found 95 proteins in sweat by high-resolution mass spectrometry . Numerous complex substances in undiluted human sweat would nonspecifically adsorb to and block the effective electrode area, causing a high background signal, low sensitivity, and even false positive response. − Moreover, even an inhomogeneous fouling layer on the electrode surface was formed by lipids in sweat to reduce the electrochemical activity . Thus, the anti-fouling property to repel nonspecific adsorption is highly desired for long-term monitoring in complex sweat environments.…”