Visual Chemical Detection Mechanism by a Liquid Gating System with Dipole‐Induced Interfacial Molecular Reconfiguration

Abstract

Chemical detection has awide range of applications. The detection of ac ertain substance is so vital that new detection mechanisms with features such as low-cost, accessibility,a nd readily available visual markers are in demand. Herein, aliquid-gating-based chemical-detection mechanism is reported, whichh as ad ynamic gas/liquid interface due to dipole-induced interfacial molecular reconfiguration. The mechanism exhibits as ensitive relationship between the dipole-force-induced rearrangement of interfacial molecules and transmembrane gating behavior.T hese features can be utilized to create visual markers for detection by converting the analyte-mediated interfacial interaction to ap ressure-driven marker movement.This "green" detection mechanism requires no electrical energy input and has readily available markers for anyone to observe directly.T his new mechanism opens aw indow for am ore in-depth exploration of combining liquid-gating mechanisms with detection mechanisms.The liquid-gating system, [1] which uses ac apillary-stabilized functional liquid to form reversible gates inside the pores, shows prominent properties in controlling complex, selective, multiphase substance transport. Although the system has already been applied to membrane separations, [2] research and development of the liquid-gating system with aresponsive dynamic molecular layer (the layer of molecular reconfiguration) on its gas/liquid or liquid/liquid interface is still at an infant stage.M ore possibilities are expected to arise when integrating specific chemical, biological or physical interactions into liquid-gating systems.H ere,w er eport ac hemical detection mechanism based on liquid-gating systems,inspired by the differential transmembrane-gating behaviors that respond to interfacial molecular reconfiguration.Molecular configuration is vital for applications on interfaces, [3] ranging from heterogeneous catalysis, [4] electron-transport electrodes, [5] superhydrophobic surface design, [6] as well as interfacial chemical interactions. [7] Wherein, interfacial molecular reconfiguration induced by specific interactions with solvation effects,electrostatic forces, and covalent bonds or non-covalent bonds (i.e., hydrogen bonds,i onic interactions,v an der Waals forces,a nd hydrophobic bonds), can be reflected by the chemical or physical properties of the substance,f or instance,s pectral features, [6a,b, 8] conductance, [9] surface tension/energy, [6a, 10] and reactive activity. [4] Recently,c onsiderable efforts have been invested in developing chemical detection applications with interfacial molecular reconfiguration, [7b,9a, 11] and however,the demands for such detection mechanism with features such as operational simplicity,a ccessibility,v isual markers and no requirements for input electrical energy are still not fully met.Herein, ad ipole-induced liquid-gating-based porous membrane system for detection (D-LGD) of specific analytes is reported, in which interfacial reconfigurable molecules are introduced into ag ating liqui...

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