Rapid Single-Step Detection of Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Using Electropolymerized Phenoxazine Dyes

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly stable ubiquitous contaminants that have been recently added to the list of regulated chemicals. While methods for PFAS detection exist, analysis is difficult, involving a tedious protocol and expensive instrumentation. Here, we demonstrate the first implementation of a phenoxazine dye as a sensing probe that facilitates rapid and inexpensive detection of representative PFAS, e.g., perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), at sensitivity levels covering the recently established Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits. The method comprises an electrode modified with a stable redox film of Meldola blue (MB) in its electropolymerized form (