Ionovoltaic urea sensor. (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, YoungJun; Yoon, Sun Geun; Shin, ChaeHo; Jin, Huding; Lee, Won Hyung; Park, Junwoo; Kim, Youn Sang
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 57(2019)
• Page Start: 195
• Page End: 201
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: Ionovoltaic transducer -- Urea sensor -- Sensor -- pH sensor -- Ion-functional device; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2018.12.028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: Urea detection has been studied extensively because urea is an important indicator in medical, environmental and industrial fields. Despite the considerable body of research in this area, limitations such as the need for an external power source and the complex operation of electrochemical flow cells remain. Herein, we introduce a novel urea sensing method that accomplishes urea detection with a single droplet of an analyte using a pH-sensitive ionovoltaic transducer and an enzyme attached glass probe. An ionovoltaic transducer converts ion dynamic phenomena at the solid-liquid interface directly into electrical signals without an external power source or additional electrochemical flow cells. With a single droplet of an analyte containing urea (140 μL), the output voltage is inverted within two minutes by surface potential changes induced by the urea decomposition depending on urea concentration in the range of 1–50 mM. Furthermore, in a selective experiment with various biomolecules such as glucose, ascorbic acid, and lactic acid, the inversion of the output voltage occurred selectively only in the urea containing analyte, which confirmed the feasibility of the proposed unique biosensor. We believe that the combination of the ionovoltaic transducer and the enzyme attached probe will greatly broaden the scope of applications of this novel biosensor. Graphical abstract: fx1 Highlights: Detection of urea with the self-powered ionovoltaic transducer and a probe. An inversion of the output voltage by the decomposition of urea. Urea selectivity for various biomaterials in an ionovoltaic urea sensor.