The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing is an analytical technique that detects specific analytes by monitoring changes in photocurrent resulting from light-induced separation of electron–hole pairs on photoactive materials. This technique is particularly attractive due to its high sensitivity, low background noise, and rapid response, which are essential for practical sensing applications. However, conventional PEC sensors suffer from limited selectivity and poor reusability, especially when nonspecific interactions occur in the detection of complex biological or chemical analytes. To address these limitations, this study aims to improve both selectivity and reusability by forming a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) on the PEC electrode, which enables specific recognition of target analytes. Specifically, to achieve selective PEC-based detection of bovine serum albumin (BSA), a BSA-imprinted MIP was fabricated on a BiVO₄ photoactive layer formed on an FTO/SnO₂ electrode.