Laser-induced graphene sensors with electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymer for the detection of ultra-low perfluorooctanoic acid

Yingming Xu; Peng Zhou; Tianhong Cui

doi:10.1016/j.snb.2025.138635

Laser-induced graphene sensors with electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymer for the detection of ultra-low perfluorooctanoic acid

Yingming Xu
, Peng Zhou
, Tianhong Cui

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper introduces a laser-induced graphene (LIG)-based electrochemical sensor with a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for ultra-sensitive and selective PFOA detection. The LIG electrode, fabricated via laser ablation, offers a porous, conductive, and scalable platform. The MIP layer, electropolymerized using o-phenylenediamine and PFOA as a template, ensures high selectivity. The sensor achieves a detection limit of 0.025 ppt with a linear range of 0.025 ppt to 25 ppb. Sensitivities of −1.08 µA/decade (oxidation) and 1.79 µA/decade (reduction) are observed at low concentrations, while −0.3 µA/decade (oxidation) and 0.69 µA/decade (reduction) are observed at high concentrations. The PFOA sensors exhibit excellent reproducibility, stability, and selectivity against other PFAS compounds, salts, and heavy metal ions. Testing in lake, river, and well water confirms its real-world applicability, making this LIG sensor a promising tool for ultra-trace PFOA monitoring.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	138635
Pages (from-to)	138635
Journal	Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical
Volume	445
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2025.138635
State	Published - Dec 15 2025

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University of Minnesota Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (DMR-2011401)
Bates, F. S. (PI), Calabrese, M. A. (PI), Ellison, C. J. (PI), Ferry, V. E. (PI), Flannigan, D. J. (PI), Frisbie, D. (PI), Frontiera, R. R. (PI), Greven, M. (PI), Haynes, C. L. (PI), Head-Marsden, K. M. (PI), Ilic, O. (PI), Jalan, B. (PI), Lamb, J. R. (PI), Leighton, C. (PI), Lodge, T. (PI), Low, T. (PI), Mahanthappa, M. (PI), Mkhoyan, A. (PI), Reineke, T. M. (PI), Roman, A. J. (PI), Sarupria, S. (PI), Stoerzinger, K. A. (PI), Walker, L. M. (PI), Wang, X. (PI), Xiong, B. (PI), Holmes, R. J. (Key Personnel), Oh, S.-H. (Key Personnel), Martiniani, S. (Prior Principal Investigator) & Wang, K. (Prior Principal Investigator)
THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
9/1/20 → 8/31/26
Project: Research project

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title = "Laser-induced graphene sensors with electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymer for the detection of ultra-low perfluorooctanoic acid",

abstract = "This paper introduces a laser-induced graphene (LIG)-based electrochemical sensor with a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for ultra-sensitive and selective PFOA detection. The LIG electrode, fabricated via laser ablation, offers a porous, conductive, and scalable platform. The MIP layer, electropolymerized using o-phenylenediamine and PFOA as a template, ensures high selectivity. The sensor achieves a detection limit of 0.025 ppt with a linear range of 0.025 ppt to 25 ppb. Sensitivities of −1.08 µA/decade (oxidation) and 1.79 µA/decade (reduction) are observed at low concentrations, while −0.3 µA/decade (oxidation) and 0.69 µA/decade (reduction) are observed at high concentrations. The PFOA sensors exhibit excellent reproducibility, stability, and selectivity against other PFAS compounds, salts, and heavy metal ions. Testing in lake, river, and well water confirms its real-world applicability, making this LIG sensor a promising tool for ultra-trace PFOA monitoring.",

author = "Yingming Xu and Peng Zhou and Tianhong Cui",

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T1 - Laser-induced graphene sensors with electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymer for the detection of ultra-low perfluorooctanoic acid

AU - Xu, Yingming

AU - Zhou, Peng

AU - Cui, Tianhong

PY - 2025/12/15

Y1 - 2025/12/15

N2 - This paper introduces a laser-induced graphene (LIG)-based electrochemical sensor with a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for ultra-sensitive and selective PFOA detection. The LIG electrode, fabricated via laser ablation, offers a porous, conductive, and scalable platform. The MIP layer, electropolymerized using o-phenylenediamine and PFOA as a template, ensures high selectivity. The sensor achieves a detection limit of 0.025 ppt with a linear range of 0.025 ppt to 25 ppb. Sensitivities of −1.08 µA/decade (oxidation) and 1.79 µA/decade (reduction) are observed at low concentrations, while −0.3 µA/decade (oxidation) and 0.69 µA/decade (reduction) are observed at high concentrations. The PFOA sensors exhibit excellent reproducibility, stability, and selectivity against other PFAS compounds, salts, and heavy metal ions. Testing in lake, river, and well water confirms its real-world applicability, making this LIG sensor a promising tool for ultra-trace PFOA monitoring.

AB - This paper introduces a laser-induced graphene (LIG)-based electrochemical sensor with a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for ultra-sensitive and selective PFOA detection. The LIG electrode, fabricated via laser ablation, offers a porous, conductive, and scalable platform. The MIP layer, electropolymerized using o-phenylenediamine and PFOA as a template, ensures high selectivity. The sensor achieves a detection limit of 0.025 ppt with a linear range of 0.025 ppt to 25 ppb. Sensitivities of −1.08 µA/decade (oxidation) and 1.79 µA/decade (reduction) are observed at low concentrations, while −0.3 µA/decade (oxidation) and 0.69 µA/decade (reduction) are observed at high concentrations. The PFOA sensors exhibit excellent reproducibility, stability, and selectivity against other PFAS compounds, salts, and heavy metal ions. Testing in lake, river, and well water confirms its real-world applicability, making this LIG sensor a promising tool for ultra-trace PFOA monitoring.

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DO - 10.1016/j.snb.2025.138635

M3 - Article

SN - 0925-4005

VL - 445

SP - 138635

JO - Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical

JF - Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical

M1 - 138635

ER -

Laser-induced graphene sensors with electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymer for the detection of ultra-low perfluorooctanoic acid

Abstract

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