HOF-derived Step-Scheme FJU-200@CdSe heterojunction: A photoelectrochemical sensing platform for sensitive detection...

Here, a photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunosensor based on the FJU-200@CdSe heterostructure was developed for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) detection. This is the first application of FJU-200 in PEC. After modification using CdSe quantum dots (QDs), FJU-200 and CdSe QDs formed an S-scheme heterostructure due to the interleaved energy band structure and the difference in Fermi energy (Ef) levels, which generated an efficient and stable PEC signal. When EGFR bound specifically to the antibody, a large spatial site resistance was generated, which hindered the electron transfer at the interface and the PEC signal was quenched. The proposed PEC sensing platform exhibited excellent detection performance for EGFR, with a good linear relationship with the photocurrent change value (ΔI) in the detection range of 10 fg/mL-100 ng/mL, and the detection limit was as low as 1.08 fg/mL. This work illustrates the potential electron transfer pathway between FJU-200 and CdSe QDs and creatively applies to the construction of PEC immunosensors, providing a new option for the detection of EGFR as well as other substances to be tested.