Abstract

Due to the urgent need for detecting trace amounts of 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB77) in the environment, we have developed an efficient and visible-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing platform based on carbon quantum dots (CQDs) modified titanium dioxide nanorods (TiO2 NRs), coupling with exonuclease I (Exo I) assisted in target recycling for significant signal amplification. CQDs/TiO2 NRs with high visible-light absorption ability and electron-hole separation efficiency is used as photoactive substrate for anchoring anti-PCB77 aptamer and its complementary DNA (cDNA). With the addition of PCB77, the specific interaction between PCB77 and its aptamer forces aptamer to separate from the electrode surface, resulting in an increase in photocurrent density. Adding Exo I in the test system, a self-catalytic target cycle was motivated, which significantly increased the PEC signal by more than twice, achieving signal amplification. The relationship between the photocurrent density changes and the concentrations of PCB77 are utilized to achieve quantitative detection of PCB77. The designed PEC sensing platform has good analytical performance with a detection limit as low as 0.33 pg L−1, high selectivity and stability. Moreover, the PEC sensor is successfully used to evaluate the content of PBC77 in the environment samples. The established sensing platform provides a simple and efficient method for detecting trace amounts of PCB77 in the environment.