Precisely controlled CdS/NiO nanomaterials by atomic layer deposition for excellent photoelectrochemical biosensor

It is an effective strategy to enhance the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of nano-semiconductor materials by preventing recombination of the photogenerated carriers. Herein, the precisely regulated CdS/xNiO nano-semiconductor materials are successfully synthesized by a facile atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique (x presents the number of ALD cycles). The experimental results showed that the high carrier recombination rate of CdS could be effectively inhibited after 80 ALD cycles with NiO deposited on its surface. Furthermore, the PEC biosensor targeting glucose was regarded as a model to discuss the application of nano-semiconductor materials precisely regulated by ALD in biosensors. Based on the excellent PEC performance of CdS/80NiO and the high specificity and affinity of glucose oxidase, a simple, fast, sensitive and label-free PEC biosensor for glucose detection was successfully developed. In conclusion, the CdS/80NiO-based biosensor has excellent characteristics such as high sensitivity, low detection limit, good anti-interference and good stability, suggesting that nano-semiconductor materials precisely regulated by ALD is a promising nanomaterial for constructing excellent PEC biosensors in clinical applications.