METHOD FOR SPECIFICALLY DETECTING TEST MATERIAL USING PHOTOCURRENT, ELECTRODE USED FOR THE SAME, CELL FOR MEASUREMENT, AND MEASURING APPARATUS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method capable of high-sensitivity, easy, and accurate detection and determination of test materials having a specific binding property, and to provide an electrode, a cell for measurement, and a measuring apparatus. SOLUTION: A working electrode, to which a test material bound with a sensitizing dye is fixed via a probe substance, is brought into contact with an electrolytic medium with a counter electrode. Light is irradiated to the working electrode, to optically excite the sensitizing dye and detect a photocurrent, caused by the movement of electrons from the optically excited sensitizing dye to the working electrode, to flow between the working electrode and the counter electrode. The working electrode has an electron acceptor layer containing an electron acceptor substance, capable of accepting electrons discharged by the sensitizing dye according to optical excitement, and the surface of the electron acceptor layer carries the probe substance. The electron acceptor substance is an oxide semiconductor, having a lower energy level than the energy level of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the sensitizing dye. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT