Sensitive visible light-driven photoelectrochemical aptasensor for detection of tetracycline using ZrO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposite

In this work, zirconia (ZrO2) modified graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets were synthesized and used as efficient photoactive compounds in a photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor for detection of tetracycline (TET). A visible light-driven PEC detection platform for TET was prepared by adding the ZrO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposite on the fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass and immobilizing the TET-binding aptamer as biorecognition element. Results exhibited, ZrO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposite demonstrated higher PEC activity compared to the pristine g-C3N4 nanosheets or ZrO2 NPs. By addition of ZrO2 NPs to g-C3N4 nanosheets, photo-current response increased significantly which confirms the synergy between the PEC activities of ZrO2 NPs and g-C3N4 nanosheets. Also, the electrode showed a linear response in the 50–150 nM of TET concentration range. The proposed PEC detection aptasensor based on ZrO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposite can be utilized as an efficient platform for selective detection of TET. © 2020 The Author