Emerging Nanomaterials for Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances Detection – A Review

Abstract

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are manmade chemicals that have been extensively used in a wide range of industrial and consumer applications due to their extraordinary features. PFAS have caused potential risks because of their persistence and bioaccumulation, consequently causing possible harm to human health and ecosystems. The fabrication of novel sensing technologies represents the game-changing strategy that can address current limitations of the conventional chromatographic techniques. This review highlights cutting-edge improvements in PFAS nano-sensor engineering, emphasizing molecular chemistry advancements in optical, electrochemical, aptamer-based, and immune-based nanosensors. Insights into tried-and-tested tactics by receiving an in-depth examination of each nano-sensor's detecting approach at the molecular level are elucidated. Potential mechanisms of interaction between PFAS and emerging nanomaterials are presented, encompassing fluorophilic interactions, electrostatic interactions, ion-bridging interactions with divalent cations, hydrophobic interactions, π-π bonds, hydrogen bonds, ionic exchange, and Van der Waals forces, in conjunction with materials such as single-atom supported nanomaterials, carbon dots, graphene, and metallic nanostructures. Using an integrated approach, the review explores current difficulties and potential in PFAS nano-sensor manufacture. Notably, it describes critical sensor development objectives and goes into what challenges were experienced during the process, thus facilitating the transfer of the most promising nano-sensor technologies into the industrial practice.