Self-powered photosensing and biosensing using hydrothermally grown CdS nanorods

Self-powered visible photosensing and glucose sensing properties of CdS nanorods (NRs) have been investigated. CdS NRs were grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)-coated glass substrates using hydrothermal method. Self-powered photodetection of CdS NRs has been studied after spin coating of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly (styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) conducting polymer on the nanorod surface. The device performance has been improved after the treatment of PEDOT-PSS polymer with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent. The maximum responsivity \({(R}_{\lambda })\) of the photodetector has been obtained ~ 11.88A/W at 500 nm wavelength at zero bias. Self-powered glucose sensing has been demonstrated in a photoelectrochemical cell using CdS NRs as photoanodes. The sensitivity towards glucose detection has been obtained 11.24 nA.cm−2. μM−1 under illumination of white LED light.