Interfacial Charge-Transfer Chemistry of Quantum Dot–Semiconductor Heterostructures for Sensitive Photoelectrochemical Detection of Trace Organic Pollutants
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: The accurate determination of trace organic pollutants in aquatic systems is important for environmental monitoring and water-quality assessment. This study investigates the photoelectrochemical determination of selected organic pollutants using quantum dot–semiconductor modified electrodes. The analytical response was evaluated under dark and visible-light irradiation conditions to establish the contribution of photoactivation to pollutant detection. The modified electrode exhibited enhanced photocurrent responses toward the target analytes, which was attributed to improved photoinduced electron transfer at the electrode–solution interface. The analytical behavior was assessed in terms of linearity, sensitivity, detection limit, selectivity, repeatability, and stability. Under optimized conditions, the sensor showed a linear response over the concentration range of 0.01–100 μM, with a detection limit of 3.2 nM and a relative standard deviation below 4.5% for replicate measurements. Common inorganic ions and coexisting organic compounds produced limited interference, demonstrating satisfactory analytical selectivity. The electrode maintained more than 93% of its initial response after repeated measurements and provided reliable recoveries of 94.2–102.6% in spiked aqueous samples. The results demonstrate the applicability of quantum dot–semiconductor modified electrodes for sensitive photoelectrochemical determination of trace organic pollutants and provide a practical analytical approach for monitoring contaminants in aqueous environments.
Source: ECSarXiv (OSF Preprints)
Language: English
Subfield: Electrochemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7212433898