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

作为新兴的污染物，全氟烷基和多氟烷基物质构成了一大类持久性人为化学物质，它们在环境和人体内具有持久性且不易降解。由于其对人类健康的影响，美国环境保护署建议饮用水中全氟辛酸和全氟辛烷磺酸的暴露健康建议不超过万亿分之70。如此低浓度的测量需要超灵敏性。该项目将说明如何将纳米技术和传感技术结合在一起以对这些物质进行超灵敏检测。如果成功的话，这项工作将彻底改变原子层沉积分子传感平台。该成果不仅将对环境监测和公共卫生产生巨大影响，也为从基础科学到应用提供了示范。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融入到他们的教育和研究培训中。研究结果将向公众和行业公司传播。该多学科项目旨在开发一种新颖、简单、便携式、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，快速、超灵敏地检测全氟烷基和多氟烷基物质。跨越纳米、材料和传感技术的多项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加标水样验证传感装置后，该装置将用于河流水样的现场测试。此外，这种新方法自然不限于任何特定的小分子。因此，它可以概括为一个通用平台，用于在分子印迹后监测各种感兴趣的小分子。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值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.