Photoelectrochemical conversion for ion-selective electrodes based on CdS semiconductor film

This study presents a novel photoelectrochemical (PEC) conversion method for ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) based on CdS semiconductor film. The motivation stems from the need to enhance the sensitivity and precision of ISEs for various analytical applications.

We synthesized CdS film on FTO conductive glass via a hydrothermal method and utilized this electrode as the working electrode. Under visible light irradiation, CdS generated photocurrent that is proportional to its applied voltage within a large potential window of ∼0.80 V. Ascorbic acid (AA) effectively inhibited electron-hole complexation, enhancing photocurrent stability. Potential modulation from ISEs acting as the reference electrode further regulated photocurrent generation, demonstrating excellent sensitivity and linearity for a wide range of ion concentrations. The method was validated by detecting serum calcium levels, showing agreement with traditional ISEs potentiometry and ICP-OES methods.

This photoelectrochemical conversion strategy offers a promising approach for sensitive and accurate ion detection, with potential applications in clinical diagnostics and environmental monitoring.