{"title":"Fabrication of a peptide–AuNP–TiO2 nanocomposite and its application as a VOC sensor","authors":"Toma Iwakiri, Hikari Suzuki, Shogo Mastubara, Masahiro Higuchi","doi":"10.1038/s41428-024-00960-3","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>We fabricated a volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor with a peptide–Au nanoparticle (AuNP)–TiO<sub>2</sub> nanocomposite in which AuNPs were linked with TiO<sub>2</sub>-coated conductive peptide nanowires. The conductive peptide nanowires were formed between the AuNPs via self-assembly through the complexation of amphiphilic peptides, LESEHEKLKSKHKSKLKEHESEL, and Co(II). Furthermore, TiO<sub>2</sub> mineralization on the surface of the peptide nanowires yielded mixed crystals of rutile and anatase, which exhibited highly effective photolytic activity. In particular, the obtained TiO<sub>2</sub> exhibited three times greater photodecomposition activity in the unsintered state toward organic matter than did commercially available TiO<sub>2</sub>. Next, we constructed a VOC sensor by immobilizing peptide–AuNP–TiO<sub>2</sub> nanocomposites on a comb electrode. The electrochemical properties of the nanocomposite changed drastically under light irradiation in the presence of VOCs, indicating transport of the VOC-decomposition-generated photoexcited electrons of TiO<sub>2</sub> to AuNPs through conductive peptide nanowires, which prevented electron–hole recombination. The obtained sensor exhibited a sensing range of 2–100 ppm for dichloromethane, which was used as a representative VOC. Therefore, nanocomposites made of AuNPs linked with conductive TiO<sub>2</sub> nanotubes may be highly effective for TiO<sub>2</sub>-driven VOC decomposition. Moreover, we believe that this nanocomposite has high sensitivity for sensing VOCs.</p>","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Polymer Journal","FirstCategoryId":"92","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-024-00960-3","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"POLYMER SCIENCE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
We fabricated a volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor with a peptide–Au nanoparticle (AuNP)–TiO2 nanocomposite in which AuNPs were linked with TiO2-coated conductive peptide nanowires. The conductive peptide nanowires were formed between the AuNPs via self-assembly through the complexation of amphiphilic peptides, LESEHEKLKSKHKSKLKEHESEL, and Co(II). Furthermore, TiO2 mineralization on the surface of the peptide nanowires yielded mixed crystals of rutile and anatase, which exhibited highly effective photolytic activity. In particular, the obtained TiO2 exhibited three times greater photodecomposition activity in the unsintered state toward organic matter than did commercially available TiO2. Next, we constructed a VOC sensor by immobilizing peptide–AuNP–TiO2 nanocomposites on a comb electrode. The electrochemical properties of the nanocomposite changed drastically under light irradiation in the presence of VOCs, indicating transport of the VOC-decomposition-generated photoexcited electrons of TiO2 to AuNPs through conductive peptide nanowires, which prevented electron–hole recombination. The obtained sensor exhibited a sensing range of 2–100 ppm for dichloromethane, which was used as a representative VOC. Therefore, nanocomposites made of AuNPs linked with conductive TiO2 nanotubes may be highly effective for TiO2-driven VOC decomposition. Moreover, we believe that this nanocomposite has high sensitivity for sensing VOCs.
期刊介绍:
Polymer Journal promotes research from all aspects of polymer science from anywhere in the world and aims to provide an integrated platform for scientific communication that assists the advancement of polymer science and related fields. The journal publishes Original Articles, Notes, Short Communications and Reviews.
Subject areas and topics of particular interest within the journal''s scope include, but are not limited to, those listed below:
Polymer synthesis and reactions
Polymer structures
Physical properties of polymers
Polymer surface and interfaces
Functional polymers
Supramolecular polymers
Self-assembled materials
Biopolymers and bio-related polymer materials
Polymer engineering.