Monolayer noble metal nanoparticle (NP) arrays hold great promise as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates due to their strong SERS performance and cost-effectiveness. However, precise regulation of hotspot intensity and density remains a critical challenge for practical applications. Here, we propose a SERS substrate based on Janus-structure NPs, which realizes accessible metal-semiconductor interface hotspots, as well as the regulation of interparticle nanogaps of ∼1 nm through a multifunctional surface ligand. By selectively depositing cerium oxide (CeO2) onto one terminus of gold nanorods (Au NRs), we fabricate Janus nanostructures that generate highly accessible and intensified hotspots. Another key enabler of this advancement is 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid (MPBA), a multifunctional ligand that precisely regulates interparticle spacing, increases hotspot density, and simultaneously serves as both a Raman molecule and a bacterial recognition unit. The SERS enhancement effect of the Janus NP array can reach more than 11 times that of the conventional Au NR array. Based on this MPBA-functionalized Janus NP array substrate, a SERS sensor for Escherichia coli was constructed, which exhibited a robust linear detection response to bacterial concentrations ranging from 6 to 6 × 104 CFU/μL, with an ultralow detection limit of approximately 1.1 CFU/μL. Our work introduces a versatile strategy for next-generation SERS substrates.
{"title":"Interface-Engineered Janus Au@CeO2 Nanostructures for Ultrasensitive Ratiometric SERS Platforms.","authors":"Lulu Tian,Songtao Hu,Qihang Ding,Zhenyu Ma,Cong Chen,Chunyan Li,Kun Wang,Juanrui Du,Yujia Shi,Jong Seung Kim,Lin Wang,Biao Dong","doi":"10.1021/acssensors.5c03379","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.5c03379","url":null,"abstract":"Monolayer noble metal nanoparticle (NP) arrays hold great promise as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates due to their strong SERS performance and cost-effectiveness. However, precise regulation of hotspot intensity and density remains a critical challenge for practical applications. Here, we propose a SERS substrate based on Janus-structure NPs, which realizes accessible metal-semiconductor interface hotspots, as well as the regulation of interparticle nanogaps of ∼1 nm through a multifunctional surface ligand. By selectively depositing cerium oxide (CeO2) onto one terminus of gold nanorods (Au NRs), we fabricate Janus nanostructures that generate highly accessible and intensified hotspots. Another key enabler of this advancement is 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid (MPBA), a multifunctional ligand that precisely regulates interparticle spacing, increases hotspot density, and simultaneously serves as both a Raman molecule and a bacterial recognition unit. The SERS enhancement effect of the Janus NP array can reach more than 11 times that of the conventional Au NR array. Based on this MPBA-functionalized Janus NP array substrate, a SERS sensor for Escherichia coli was constructed, which exhibited a robust linear detection response to bacterial concentrations ranging from 6 to 6 × 104 CFU/μL, with an ultralow detection limit of approximately 1.1 CFU/μL. Our work introduces a versatile strategy for next-generation SERS substrates.","PeriodicalId":24,"journal":{"name":"ACS Sensors","volume":"64 1","pages":"XXX"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146056365","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes devastating outbreaks in swine populations worldwide. The co-existence of wild-type and emerging gene-deleted variants (e.g., ASFV-ΔI177L) necessitates rapid on-site diagnostic tools for strain identification, which is critical for timely disease control and tailored farm management. Here, we developed a field-deployable, extraction-free one-pot assay (CORDSv2) that combines multiplex RPA and CRISPR/Cas12a to target conserved ASFV sequences and specific fluorescent markers (eGFP/mCherry) of gene-deleted variants. The assay achieved ultrasensitive detection (LOD: 6 copies/μL) and demonstrated 97.9% accuracy with 96 field samples. To streamline field operations, we integrated an extraction-free protocol (for serum/saliva) with freeze-dried reagent microspheres, enabling stable storage and direct use with minimal manual handling. When paired with a portable fluorometer (hippoCORDS), the system completes the entire sample-to-answer workflow within 1 h with a single step: addition of lysate to the microspheres. This robust, portable system addresses the urgent need for simple, on-site ASFV variant surveillance and is adaptable for other high-threat pathogens.
{"title":"An Extraction-free One-Pot Assay for Rapid Field Discrimination of African Swine Fever Virus Variants by a Single-Step RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a Strategy.","authors":"Wenyan Li,Yunpeng Yang,Wenyi Xu,Yongchong Zhu,Yue Li,Lihui Cao,Shuyao Lyu,Jingqun Liu,Yan Xie,Xueping Li,Xianghua Hu,Lizhen Huang","doi":"10.1021/acssensors.5c03287","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.5c03287","url":null,"abstract":"African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes devastating outbreaks in swine populations worldwide. The co-existence of wild-type and emerging gene-deleted variants (e.g., ASFV-ΔI177L) necessitates rapid on-site diagnostic tools for strain identification, which is critical for timely disease control and tailored farm management. Here, we developed a field-deployable, extraction-free one-pot assay (CORDSv2) that combines multiplex RPA and CRISPR/Cas12a to target conserved ASFV sequences and specific fluorescent markers (eGFP/mCherry) of gene-deleted variants. The assay achieved ultrasensitive detection (LOD: 6 copies/μL) and demonstrated 97.9% accuracy with 96 field samples. To streamline field operations, we integrated an extraction-free protocol (for serum/saliva) with freeze-dried reagent microspheres, enabling stable storage and direct use with minimal manual handling. When paired with a portable fluorometer (hippoCORDS), the system completes the entire sample-to-answer workflow within 1 h with a single step: addition of lysate to the microspheres. This robust, portable system addresses the urgent need for simple, on-site ASFV variant surveillance and is adaptable for other high-threat pathogens.","PeriodicalId":24,"journal":{"name":"ACS Sensors","volume":"110 1","pages":"XXX"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146056942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-22DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.5c03192
Yingying Feng,Wanqi Jiang,Wenya Liu,Yuqing Zhang,Xiyao Liang,Shuqing Mei,Kai Wang,Yaqing Xiao,Yingnan Liu
A portable integrated sensing device incorporating a Tb3+/DTE-Cu NC ratiometric fluorescent probe was developed for the rapid on-site detection of fluoroquinolone (FQ) residues in poultry eggs. The system features a dual-layer filtration unit, consisting of glass wool and a polyvinyl alcohol/sodium alginate hydrogel, which purifies egg samples in situ through combined physical interception and chemical adsorption. The Tb3+/DTE-Cu NC probe was immobilized within the hydrogel matrix, enabling full integration of the entire "sample introduction-filtration-detection" process. Under 365 nm UV light, fluorescence emission shifts from red to green as the FQ concentration increases. Quantitative analysis is accomplished by extracting the G/R ratio from smartphone-captured RGB values. The device achieves a detection limit of 1.6 nM, with recoveries for spiked egg samples ranging from 91% to 112%. This low-cost, rapid, and instrument-free platform presents a practical solution for the sensitive on-site monitoring of antibiotic residues in food safety applications.
{"title":"One-Click Egg Safety Check: A Syringe-Integrated Portable Platform for On-Site Fluoroquinolone Residue Detection.","authors":"Yingying Feng,Wanqi Jiang,Wenya Liu,Yuqing Zhang,Xiyao Liang,Shuqing Mei,Kai Wang,Yaqing Xiao,Yingnan Liu","doi":"10.1021/acssensors.5c03192","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.5c03192","url":null,"abstract":"A portable integrated sensing device incorporating a Tb3+/DTE-Cu NC ratiometric fluorescent probe was developed for the rapid on-site detection of fluoroquinolone (FQ) residues in poultry eggs. The system features a dual-layer filtration unit, consisting of glass wool and a polyvinyl alcohol/sodium alginate hydrogel, which purifies egg samples in situ through combined physical interception and chemical adsorption. The Tb3+/DTE-Cu NC probe was immobilized within the hydrogel matrix, enabling full integration of the entire \"sample introduction-filtration-detection\" process. Under 365 nm UV light, fluorescence emission shifts from red to green as the FQ concentration increases. Quantitative analysis is accomplished by extracting the G/R ratio from smartphone-captured RGB values. The device achieves a detection limit of 1.6 nM, with recoveries for spiked egg samples ranging from 91% to 112%. This low-cost, rapid, and instrument-free platform presents a practical solution for the sensitive on-site monitoring of antibiotic residues in food safety applications.","PeriodicalId":24,"journal":{"name":"ACS Sensors","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146015176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-22DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.5c02217
Ke Chen,Guozhu Zhang,Rui Gao,Jiangfei Shi,Chao Zhang,Zeyu Wang,Kun Qian,Kazuki Nagashima,Yang Gao,Fu-Zhen Xuan
Highly active and stable sensing surfaces are critical for the integration of catalysis-based electrical gas molecular sensors. However, achieving both high sensitivity and durability remains a persistent challenge due to continuous exposure to target molecules often results in surface deactivation and sensing performance degradation. Herein, we demonstrate a robust surface functionalization strategy to simultaneously enhance sensitivity and long-term stability for ammonia (NH3) detection by modifying hexagonal tungsten oxide (h-WO3) nanowires with methylphosphonic acid (MPA). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that phosphate groups in MPA selectively bind to the Lewis acid sites (undercoordinated W6+) on h-WO3 nanowires, effectively passivating the surface and mitigating degradation. Concurrently, the electron-rich P=O moiety facilitates strong interaction with NH3 molecules, leading to enhanced chemisorption and signal transduction. As a result, MPA-functionalized h-WO3 nanowire sensors exhibit a nearly tenfold increase in NH3 sensitivity compared to the unmodified h-WO3 sensors and maintain stable performance over 300 days of continuous operation. As a proof of concept for applied scenarios, we integrate the modified sensors into a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based smart ventilation system, enabling real-time NH3 monitoring and control in livestock environments. This work presents a viable route for designing high-performance, durable gas sensors through targeted molecular surface engineering.
{"title":"Phosphonic Acid-Anchored Tungsten Oxide Nanowire with Boosted Activity and Stability for Ammonia Sensing.","authors":"Ke Chen,Guozhu Zhang,Rui Gao,Jiangfei Shi,Chao Zhang,Zeyu Wang,Kun Qian,Kazuki Nagashima,Yang Gao,Fu-Zhen Xuan","doi":"10.1021/acssensors.5c02217","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.5c02217","url":null,"abstract":"Highly active and stable sensing surfaces are critical for the integration of catalysis-based electrical gas molecular sensors. However, achieving both high sensitivity and durability remains a persistent challenge due to continuous exposure to target molecules often results in surface deactivation and sensing performance degradation. Herein, we demonstrate a robust surface functionalization strategy to simultaneously enhance sensitivity and long-term stability for ammonia (NH3) detection by modifying hexagonal tungsten oxide (h-WO3) nanowires with methylphosphonic acid (MPA). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that phosphate groups in MPA selectively bind to the Lewis acid sites (undercoordinated W6+) on h-WO3 nanowires, effectively passivating the surface and mitigating degradation. Concurrently, the electron-rich P=O moiety facilitates strong interaction with NH3 molecules, leading to enhanced chemisorption and signal transduction. As a result, MPA-functionalized h-WO3 nanowire sensors exhibit a nearly tenfold increase in NH3 sensitivity compared to the unmodified h-WO3 sensors and maintain stable performance over 300 days of continuous operation. As a proof of concept for applied scenarios, we integrate the modified sensors into a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based smart ventilation system, enabling real-time NH3 monitoring and control in livestock environments. This work presents a viable route for designing high-performance, durable gas sensors through targeted molecular surface engineering.","PeriodicalId":24,"journal":{"name":"ACS Sensors","volume":"103 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146015177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-22DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.5c03836
Shaorui Qi,Lei Sun,Fansheng Meng,Guimei Shi,Yunlong Sun,Bo Jiang,Junbo Li,Yukihiro Ozaki,Wei Ji
Abnormal lactic acid (LA) enantiomeric excess (ee) in biofluids is closely associated with various intestinal diseases. Here, we report a chiral-label-free nonplasmonic surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platform using a ZIF-8/ZnS heterojunction that enables direct quantification of LA enantiomers and their ee values in raw human urine through a charge-transfer-driven chiral recognition mechanism. Our findings indicate that an enantioselective hydrogen bonding between 4-mercaptopyridine (4-MPy) probes and LA enantiomers induces differential charge-transfer effects within the ZIF-8/ZnS@4-MPy system, evidenced by the selective enhancement of specific vibrational modes in the SERS spectra of 4-MPy and enantiomer-specific changes in the fluorescence lifetime of ZnS. This innovative system integrates signal amplification and stereoselectivity without the use of noble metals or chiral modifiers, overcoming critical limitations associated with the complexity of preparing chiral plasmonic substrates. The platform achieves ultrasensitive detection limits (10 nM), linear response to ee values (R2 = 0.98), high measurement precision (RSD < 8.28%, n = 20), long-term stability (28-day), and clinical-grade accuracy against enzymatic assays (RMSEP = 1.97). This work presents an efficient, noninvasive method for the analysis of chiral metabolites in urine, while establishing a novel direction for plasmon-free SERS chiral sensing.
{"title":"Charge-Transfer-Driven Enantioselective Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering on a ZIF-8/ZnS Heterojunction: A Chiral-Label-Free Biosensor for Quantification of Urinary Lactate Enantiomeric Excess.","authors":"Shaorui Qi,Lei Sun,Fansheng Meng,Guimei Shi,Yunlong Sun,Bo Jiang,Junbo Li,Yukihiro Ozaki,Wei Ji","doi":"10.1021/acssensors.5c03836","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.5c03836","url":null,"abstract":"Abnormal lactic acid (LA) enantiomeric excess (ee) in biofluids is closely associated with various intestinal diseases. Here, we report a chiral-label-free nonplasmonic surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platform using a ZIF-8/ZnS heterojunction that enables direct quantification of LA enantiomers and their ee values in raw human urine through a charge-transfer-driven chiral recognition mechanism. Our findings indicate that an enantioselective hydrogen bonding between 4-mercaptopyridine (4-MPy) probes and LA enantiomers induces differential charge-transfer effects within the ZIF-8/ZnS@4-MPy system, evidenced by the selective enhancement of specific vibrational modes in the SERS spectra of 4-MPy and enantiomer-specific changes in the fluorescence lifetime of ZnS. This innovative system integrates signal amplification and stereoselectivity without the use of noble metals or chiral modifiers, overcoming critical limitations associated with the complexity of preparing chiral plasmonic substrates. The platform achieves ultrasensitive detection limits (10 nM), linear response to ee values (R2 = 0.98), high measurement precision (RSD < 8.28%, n = 20), long-term stability (28-day), and clinical-grade accuracy against enzymatic assays (RMSEP = 1.97). This work presents an efficient, noninvasive method for the analysis of chiral metabolites in urine, while establishing a novel direction for plasmon-free SERS chiral sensing.","PeriodicalId":24,"journal":{"name":"ACS Sensors","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146015175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Achieving quantitative and reproducible surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection remains challenging due to the stochastic nature of molecular distribution and the nonuniform enhancement of localized plasmonic "hot spots". Here, we present a wettability-patterned Ag nanoparticles and ZnO nanorod (Ag/ZnO)-nanostructured substrate that enables self-metered droplet partitioning and uniform molecular deposition for quantitative SERS sensing. By exploiting the strong contrast between hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, a bulk liquid droplet can spontaneously split into an array of equal-volume microdroplets without any external confinement. During evaporation, the hydrophilic Ag/ZnO nanocolumns induce capillary-driven infiltration, which, in combination with wettability confinement, effectively suppresses the coffee ring effect and ensures homogeneous solute deposition within a defined area. Systematic comparisons among hydrophilic, flat-patterned, and nanostructured-patterned substrates reveal distinct drying dynamics, confirming that the synergistic control of capillary infiltration and wettability patterning governs uniform analyte distribution. Consequently, the designed substrate delivers highly linear and reproducible (RSD < 5%) SERS responses across multiple domains and analyte types. This simple yet robust self-metered droplet strategy provides a practical route toward uniform, quantitative, and molecule-independent SERS detection, offering new opportunities for reliable chemical and biosensing applications.
{"title":"Self-Metered and Uniform Droplet Deposition within Defined Areas for Quantitative Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Detection.","authors":"Zhilin Feng,Zhenle Qin,Xiaohui Fang,Yang Li,He Ma,Xinping Zhang","doi":"10.1021/acssensors.5c04445","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.5c04445","url":null,"abstract":"Achieving quantitative and reproducible surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection remains challenging due to the stochastic nature of molecular distribution and the nonuniform enhancement of localized plasmonic \"hot spots\". Here, we present a wettability-patterned Ag nanoparticles and ZnO nanorod (Ag/ZnO)-nanostructured substrate that enables self-metered droplet partitioning and uniform molecular deposition for quantitative SERS sensing. By exploiting the strong contrast between hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, a bulk liquid droplet can spontaneously split into an array of equal-volume microdroplets without any external confinement. During evaporation, the hydrophilic Ag/ZnO nanocolumns induce capillary-driven infiltration, which, in combination with wettability confinement, effectively suppresses the coffee ring effect and ensures homogeneous solute deposition within a defined area. Systematic comparisons among hydrophilic, flat-patterned, and nanostructured-patterned substrates reveal distinct drying dynamics, confirming that the synergistic control of capillary infiltration and wettability patterning governs uniform analyte distribution. Consequently, the designed substrate delivers highly linear and reproducible (RSD < 5%) SERS responses across multiple domains and analyte types. This simple yet robust self-metered droplet strategy provides a practical route toward uniform, quantitative, and molecule-independent SERS detection, offering new opportunities for reliable chemical and biosensing applications.","PeriodicalId":24,"journal":{"name":"ACS Sensors","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146015178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Semiconductor gas sensors are widely used in environmental monitoring, industrial safety, etc., yet their performance is often hindered by issues such as cross-response, poor stability, and low sensitivity. Given the material-dependent nature of these limitations, the targeted optimization of the sensing properties remains a core challenge in the field. Gas sensing primarily involves adsorption and surface reactions, with performance critically governed by interfacial reaction kinetics at the gas-semiconductor interface. A deep understanding and precise modulation of these interfacial mechanisms are therefore essential for performance enhancement. This review systematically discusses how interfacial reactions influence key sensing parameters, including sensitivity, selectivity, stability, and dynamic response. Strategies for regulating these interfacial processes are analyzed to inform the rational design of high-performance sensors. Additionally, state-of-the-art characterization techniques and theoretical approaches for probing interfacial mechanisms are summarized, offering technical support for elucidating microscopic reaction pathways. By integrating current advances and challenges, this review establishes the fundamental links between material properties, interfacial chemistry, and sensing behavior, thereby providing a theoretical framework and design guidance for the next-generation semiconductor gas sensors.
{"title":"Performance Optimization of Semiconductor Gas Sensors Based on Interfacial Reaction Regulation: Status and Challenges.","authors":"Xinyi Dai,Yuting Zhu,Sibo Zhang,Pengfei Sun,Xiaoping Dong,Fan Dong,Si Chen","doi":"10.1021/acssensors.5c02681","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.5c02681","url":null,"abstract":"Semiconductor gas sensors are widely used in environmental monitoring, industrial safety, etc., yet their performance is often hindered by issues such as cross-response, poor stability, and low sensitivity. Given the material-dependent nature of these limitations, the targeted optimization of the sensing properties remains a core challenge in the field. Gas sensing primarily involves adsorption and surface reactions, with performance critically governed by interfacial reaction kinetics at the gas-semiconductor interface. A deep understanding and precise modulation of these interfacial mechanisms are therefore essential for performance enhancement. This review systematically discusses how interfacial reactions influence key sensing parameters, including sensitivity, selectivity, stability, and dynamic response. Strategies for regulating these interfacial processes are analyzed to inform the rational design of high-performance sensors. Additionally, state-of-the-art characterization techniques and theoretical approaches for probing interfacial mechanisms are summarized, offering technical support for elucidating microscopic reaction pathways. By integrating current advances and challenges, this review establishes the fundamental links between material properties, interfacial chemistry, and sensing behavior, thereby providing a theoretical framework and design guidance for the next-generation semiconductor gas sensors.","PeriodicalId":24,"journal":{"name":"ACS Sensors","volume":"88 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146005310","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In this study, we successfully synthesized NbC nanofilms on the GaN surface, and a more uniform size and thinner thickness of NbC were optimized by further fabricating circular hole arrays on GaN epitaxial wafers using photolithography and etching techniques. This sensor exhibits an ultralow detection limit of 200 ppb for TMA gas at room temperature, a high response value (84.14%) to 200 ppm of TMA, and low resistance fluctuation for uniform NbC nanofilms. The excellent performance after combination of the two can be attributed to the synergistic effects of p-n heterojunctions and Schottky barriers. Furthermore, the algorithm innovatively adopts dual-feature extraction via KPCA combined with polynomial feature engineering to systematically investigate the relationship within sensor array data. By integrating machine learning algorithms with the sensor array, the system achieves the precise identification of target components in gas mixtures, reaching 98% accuracy. Ultimately, this study demonstrates the significant application potential of gas sensors in the next generation robotic electronic nose.
{"title":"Fabrication of NbC/GaN Nanofilm Sensor via Photolithography and its Investigation as a Sensor for Trimethylamine Mixed Gas Detection Using Dual-Feature Extraction and Deep Learning.","authors":"Juxu Guang,Dan Han,Yilin Ping,Lianao Yan,Zhengyang Jia,Yuxuan Wang,Zhitao Cheng,Guojing Wang,Weidong Wang,Shengbo Sang","doi":"10.1021/acssensors.5c02507","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.5c02507","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, we successfully synthesized NbC nanofilms on the GaN surface, and a more uniform size and thinner thickness of NbC were optimized by further fabricating circular hole arrays on GaN epitaxial wafers using photolithography and etching techniques. This sensor exhibits an ultralow detection limit of 200 ppb for TMA gas at room temperature, a high response value (84.14%) to 200 ppm of TMA, and low resistance fluctuation for uniform NbC nanofilms. The excellent performance after combination of the two can be attributed to the synergistic effects of p-n heterojunctions and Schottky barriers. Furthermore, the algorithm innovatively adopts dual-feature extraction via KPCA combined with polynomial feature engineering to systematically investigate the relationship within sensor array data. By integrating machine learning algorithms with the sensor array, the system achieves the precise identification of target components in gas mixtures, reaching 98% accuracy. Ultimately, this study demonstrates the significant application potential of gas sensors in the next generation robotic electronic nose.","PeriodicalId":24,"journal":{"name":"ACS Sensors","volume":"81 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145986259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.5c02906
Ya-Chen Tsai, Hyongsok Tom Soh, Jun-Chau Chien
Electrochemical aptamer-based (E-AB) sensors undergo structure-switching upon target binding, making them well-suited for in vivo continuous monitoring of biomolecules with high sensitivity and selectivity. Although square-wave voltammetry (SWV) is the most widely used analytical technique for probing the states of E-AB sensors, precise signal extraction from SWVs acquired during in vivo measurements remains challenging. The difficulty arises due to additive electronic and chemical noise, as well as varying background currents caused by factors such as the reduction of dissolved oxygen, degradation of self-assembly monolayer on the electrodes, biofouling, and other unforeseen effects. Conventional signal extraction algorithms, which typically assume a constant or a linearly varying background current with respect to the scanning potentials, are therefore error prone. In this work, we present a signal-processing technique termed Extension-enhanced Wavelet Decomposition (EWD) that enables background-resilient and noise-reduced SWV peak extraction while preserving quantitative redox signals. Inspired by the symmetric extension technique used in MRI image processing, EWD introduces pseudo-periodicity to the background signals and improves its spectral separation with redox signals from the process of wavelet transformation. We first validate the proposed EWD using simulated data, followed by its application to the datasets from both in vitro and in vivo experiments using several E-AB sensors. Compared to the conventional SWV signal extraction workflow, EWD demonstrates reduced background susceptibility and achieves 1.75 ∼ 3.6-fold improvement in extraction variations from five in vivo datasets measured in whole blood when comparing with conventional SWV signal extraction method.
{"title":"Extension-Enhanced Wavelet Decomposition: a Noise and Background Resilient Square-Wave Voltammogram Signal-Processing Technique for Electrochemical Aptamer-Based Biosensing In Vivo","authors":"Ya-Chen Tsai, Hyongsok Tom Soh, Jun-Chau Chien","doi":"10.1021/acssensors.5c02906","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.5c02906","url":null,"abstract":"Electrochemical aptamer-based (E-AB) sensors undergo structure-switching upon target binding, making them well-suited for <i>in vivo</i> continuous monitoring of biomolecules with high sensitivity and selectivity. Although square-wave voltammetry (SWV) is the most widely used analytical technique for probing the states of E-AB sensors, precise signal extraction from SWVs acquired during <i>in vivo</i> measurements remains challenging. The difficulty arises due to additive electronic and chemical noise, as well as varying background currents caused by factors such as the reduction of dissolved oxygen, degradation of self-assembly monolayer on the electrodes, biofouling, and other unforeseen effects. Conventional signal extraction algorithms, which typically assume a constant or a linearly varying background current with respect to the scanning potentials, are therefore error prone. In this work, we present a signal-processing technique termed Extension-enhanced Wavelet Decomposition (EWD) that enables background-resilient and noise-reduced SWV peak extraction while preserving quantitative redox signals. Inspired by the symmetric extension technique used in MRI image processing, EWD introduces pseudo-periodicity to the background signals and improves its spectral separation with redox signals from the process of wavelet transformation. We first validate the proposed EWD using simulated data, followed by its application to the datasets from both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> experiments using several E-AB sensors. Compared to the conventional SWV signal extraction workflow, EWD demonstrates reduced background susceptibility and achieves 1.75 ∼ 3.6-fold improvement in extraction variations from five <i>in vivo</i> datasets measured in whole blood when comparing with conventional SWV signal extraction method.","PeriodicalId":24,"journal":{"name":"ACS Sensors","volume":"51 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145968651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-11DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.5c02481
Athanasios Papadopoulos, , , Manuel T. Anlauf, , , Jens Reiners, , , Seung-Hyun Paik, , , Aileen Krüger, , , Benita Lückel, , , Michael Bott, , , Thomas Drepper, , , Julia Frunzke, , , Holger Gohlke, , , Stefanie Weidtkamp-Peters, , , Sander H. J. Smits*, , and , Christoph G. W. Gertzen*,
Genetically encoded biosensors enable the monitoring of metabolite dynamics in living organisms. We present CoBiSe, a computational biosensor design approach using Constraint Network Analysis to identify optimal insertion sites for reporter modules in molecular recognition elements (MREs). Applied to the iron-binding protein DtxR from Corynebacterium glutamicum, CoBiSe identified a flexible connective loop (residues 138–150) for inserting the reporter module, resulting in IronSenseR, a novel ratiometric biosensor for ferrous iron (Fe2+). IronSenseR demonstrates high specificity for Fe2+ with dissociation constants of 1.78 ± 0.03 (FeSO4) and 2.90 ± 0.12 μM (FeCl2), while showing no binding to Fe3+ and other divalent cations. In vivo assessment in Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida, and Corynebacterium glutamicum confirmed IronSenseR’s capability to detect changes in the intracellular iron pool. The creation of IronSenseR underlines that by reducing search space and eliminating labor-intensive screening, CoBiSe streamlines biosensor development and enables precise creation of next-generation biosensors for diverse metabolites.
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