Photoelectrochemical detection of tetracycline with exceptional speediness, ultralow detection limit, and high selectivity

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with unique physicochemical properties have found increasing applications in various fields including photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensors. This work describes a high-performance MOF-based PEC sensor towards tetracycline (TET), a kind of stable broad-spectrum antibiotics. Specifically, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), on top of ZnIn2S4 nanosheets (ZIS)/fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO), could interact with TET in a rapid and selective manner, causing the substantial reduction of the photocurrent signal. In TET detection, this sensor could quickly respond to TET with ultralow detection limit of 0.1 pM. In addition to a new TET sensor, this work is expected to inspire more interest in the development of advanced MOF-based PEC sensors. [Display omitted] •A novel ZIF-8@ZnIn2S4/FTO photoelectrode was constructed for PEC detection of tetracycline.•The PEC sensor exhibited super-fast response toward tetracycline within one second.•This work has provided a new horizon for design and implementation of the advanced MOFs-based PEC sensor.