Layered MoS2 based Electrochemical Biosensor
Authors: Kim Hyeong U , Kim Hyeyoun , Ahn Chisung , Kulkarni Atul , Lee Min-Ho , Kim Taesung 
Published: February 2020

Recently two dimensional layered structures, such as graphene and Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), have got attention because of their unique physical and chemical properties. It has been reported that the integration of carbon-based materials and metal oxide nanoparticle shows synergistic effects in electrochemical application. Graphene sheets are explored due to their large active surface area, which can be embedded by intercalation methods and high mobility, on/off ratio. However, graphene doesn’t have band-gap which adds a large leakage current and reduces dynamic range of sensor hence it is difficult to use in sensing applications. In contrast, MoS2 has a direct band gap whereas all other features are similar to graphene. Typically, MoS2 is composed of three atomic layers which are composed by a Mo layer between Surfer layers. These layers are stacked and held each other by weak van der Waals force so molecule can be embedded. These properties lead to fabrication of MoS2 nanosheet-based field effect biosensor for potential use in the bio-sensing applications.

It is well known that for biosensor, selective, accurate and rapid detection methods are necessary. As an example significant work has been carried out for the detection of H2O2 using fluorescence, chemiluminescence, titrimetry, cell imaging, spectrophotometry and electrochemical methods. Among them, electrochemical method has great advantages including high sensitivity, selectivity, low cost and simple instrumentation. Until now, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), a heme enzyme, has been commonly used to contrast an efficient H2O2 biosensor. However, the preparation of H2O2 biosensor with high performance has proven challenging. For achieving it, MoS2 has been utilized to modify the surface of electrode and immobilize HRP because of high surface reaction activity and good catalytic efficiency.

In the present work, the electrocatalytic activity of layered MoS2 toward the reduction of H2O2 with the help of HRP is demonstrated. The chemical vapor deposition (CVD) synthesized MoS2 thin films are transferred on gold (Au) electrode and was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission microscopy (HR-TEM). IgG-HRP was then immobilized on MoS2 thin film layers. Here MoS2 work as an electrocatalyst between Au electrode and active centers of HRP. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) results demonstrated the fast electron transfer process between HRP and the Au electrode. Figure 1 show the CV plots of IgG-HRP modified MoS2 towards H2O2 for 10 to 100 mVs-1 scan rates. It is observed that no reduction peak for 10 mM PBS (curve a). However, reduction peak were observed (curve b, c, and d) as the scan rate increases from 10 to 100 mVs-1. This phenomenon can be attributed to electrochemical reaction of immobilized IgG-HRP on MoS2 Au electrode and H2O2.

In conclusion, in the present work we successfully demonstrated MoS2 based electrochemical biosensor platform for the detection of H2O2. Further H2O2 concentration dependent evolution is in process. We believe that this work will be helpful for the research community to develop MoS2 based electrochemical biosensors.