Polyoxometalate functionalizing CeO₂ hollow nanospheres as enhanced oxidase mimics for ascorbic acid colorimetric...

Phosphotungstic acid covered with CeO₂ hollow nanospheres (CeO₂@PTA HNSs) has been successfully prepared by a simple method, serving as highly efficient nanozymes for ascorbic acid (AA) colorimetric sensing. In virtue of the unique hollow nanostructures, oxide defects and synergic effects of CeO₂ and PTA, the proposed CeO₂@PTA HNSs present remarkable intrinsic oxidase-like activity and help capture electrons from 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). Due to the reducibility of AA, a promising colorimetric sensing platform based on CeO₂@PTA HNSs has been constructed for quantitative analysis of AA. The present colorimetric detection exhibits a low limit of detection, good selectivity and stability, as well as reliability in orange juice and milk. This work provides a simple surface defect engineering to prepare high-performance oxidase mimics in the application of colorimetric biosensing.