Recent Advances in Sensing Applications of Molecularly Imprinted Photonic Crystals

Abstract

Photonic crystals (PhCs) with a brightly colored structure are novel materials and are widely used in chemical and biological sensing. Combining PhCs with molecular imprinting technology (MIT), the molecularly imprinted PhC (MIPC) sensors are fabricated, which can specifically recognize the target molecules. Aside from high sensitivity and selectivity, the MIPC sensors could recognize the naked eye detection because of its optical properties. In this review, an overview of recent advances in sensing applications of MIPC sensors including the responsive mechanisms, application in environmental monitoring, and the application to human health were illustrated. The MIPC sensors all responded to the analytes specifically and also showed high sensitivity in real samples, which provided a method to realize the rapid, convenient, naked eye, and real-time detection. Furthermore, the current limitations and potential future directions of MIPC sensors were also discussed.

Selectivity in trace gas sensing: recent developments, challenges, and future perspectives

“…83,84 The alteration of the photonic bandgap of PhCs due to analyte gas at low concentration is the main challenge for the selective detection of analyte gas. 84,205–208 Therefore, maximum change of photonic bandgap by an analyte gas must be the primary concern in the fabrication of PhCs to improve selectivity. Recent experimental and theoretical demonstrations show that high sensitivity and high-quality factor can be achieved by using different PhC sensor configurations/sensors 209,210 e.g.…”

Prussian Blue Analogues-Derived Molecularly Imprinted Nanozyme Array for Septicemia Detection

“…35 Combining the desirable characteristics of TiO 2 with MIT, TiO 2 -based molecular imprinting polymers (MIPs) have found extensive use in chemical biosensors for their selective detection capabilities. 36 Additionally, TiO 2 , as the main component, plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall recognition capacity through inner-sphere complex formation, electrostatic interaction, or hydrogen bonding. 35 TiO 2 -based MIPs offer advantages such as simple preparation, low cost, and high stability while exhibiting excellent catalytic activity and selectivity.…”

Hazardous Gases-Responsive Photonic Crystals Cryogenic Sensors Based on Antifreezing and Water Retention Hydrogels

“…Therefore, the rapid sensing of hazardous gases and early warnings are urgently needed under the extreme conditions of low temperature. Recently, simple and passive structural sensors have attracted widespread attention , and involve the sensing of explosives, VOCs, environmental pollutants, biomacromolecules, temperature, and pH . Among them, photonic crystals (PhCs) is an ordered artificial material formed by periodically arranging two or more dielectric materials with different refractive indexes in space, and PhCs sensors are extensively studied because of their unique optical properties , and visible responses .…”