A sensitizing photoelectrochemical sensing platform strategy based on bio-etching preparation of Bi2S3/BiOCl p-n heterojunction

Using photoelectrochemical (PEC) platform for ultrasensitive detection of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) is a big challenge since sensor sensitive component can be damaged by corrosive metabolites. In this work, a novel bio-etching strategy for sensitizing PEC platform is developed to detect SRB. In the presence of bacterial metabolite (H2S), BiOCl platform can be bio-etched to form Bi2S3/BiOCl p-n heterojunction, leading to a significant enhancement of photocurrent. The PEC sensing platform fabricated by bio-etching strategy presents acceptable detection specificity and high detection sensitivity with a low detection limit of 29 cfu/mL for SRB. The current work can provide new strategies to sensitize PEC platforms for detection of microorganisms that produce corrosive metabolite.