Atomic Layer Deposition Enabled Perfluorinated Ligand Imprinted Molecular Layer Sensor for Total PFAS Detection

作为新出现的污染物，全氟烷基和多氟烷基物质构成了一大类持久性的人为化学物质，这些化学物质在环境和人体内是持久性的，不易降解。由于对人体健康的影响，美国环保局建议饮用水中全氟辛酸和全氟辛烷磺酸的暴露健康忠告不超过万亿分之70。在如此低的浓度下进行测量需要极高的灵敏度。这个项目将说明纳米技术和传感技术如何结合在一起，以实现对这些物质的超灵敏检测。如果成功，这项工作将使原子层沉积启用的分子传感平台发生革命性变化。这一成果不仅将对环境监测和公众健康产生巨大影响，而且将为从基础科学到应用提供示范。该项目还将让各级学生参与，并将先进的器件制造和传感知识整合到他们的教育和研究培训中。研究结果将分发给普通公众和行业公司。这一多学科项目旨在开发一种新颖、简单、便携、低成本的传感器，基于独特的原子层沉积分子印迹技术和便携式平台中的超灵敏电化学信号检测，用于快速和超灵敏地检测全氟烷基和多氟烷基物质。几种跨越纳米、材料和传感技术的新颖功能将无缝集成到传感平台中。在受控实验室环境中使用添加水样对传感装置进行验证后，这些装置将用于河水样本的现场测试。此外，这种新的方法自然不局限于任何特定的小分子。因此，它可以概括为一个通用的平台，用于监测分子印迹后的广泛关注的小分子。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

As emerging contaminants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances make up a large group of persistent anthropogenic chemicals that are persistent and not easily degradable in the environment and in the human body. Due to their impact on human health, the exposure health advisory of perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate in drinking water is recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency to be no more than 70 parts per trillion. Measurements at such low concentration require ultrasensitivity. This project will illustrate how nanotechnology and sensing technology can be meshed together for ultrasensitive detection of those substances. The work will revolutionize the atomic layer deposition-enabled molecular sensing platform if successful. The outcome will not only have an enormous impact on environmental monitoring and public health, but also provide a demonstration from basic science to applications. This project will also involve the students at all levels and integrate advanced device fabrication and sensing knowledge into their education and research training. The research results will be disseminated to general public and industry companies. This multidisciplinary project aims at developing a novel, simple, portable, low-cost sensor for rapid and ultra-sensitive detection of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances based on unique atomic layer deposition-enabled molecularly imprinting technology and ultrasensitive electrochemical signal detection in a portable platform. Several novel features crossing nano-, material- and sensing technologies will be seamlessly integrated into the sensing platform. After validation of the sensing device using spiked water samples in the controlled laboratory environment, the devices will be applied for in-field tests of river water samples. In addition, this new methodology is naturally not limited to any particular small molecules. Therefore, it can be generalized as a universal platform for monitoring a wide spectrum of small molecules of interest after molecularly imprinting.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.