A visible light-driven photoelectrochemical sensor for mercury (II) with "turn-on" signal output through in-situ formation of double type-II heterostructure using CdS nanowires and ZnS quantum dots.

[Display omitted] • ZnS/CdS was fabricated with type-II heterostructure by growing ZnS QDs on CdS NWs. • Low-bandgap CdS NWs and wide-bandgap ZnS QDs act separately as photosensitizer and Hg2+ probe. • A selective PEC sensor was developed for the analysis of Hg2+ with "turn-on" signal output. • Hg2+ induces the in-situ formation of HgS/ZnS/CdS with double type-II heterostructure. • The PEC sensor can detect Hg2+ with concentrations down to about 0.40 pM. An ultrasensitive and selective photoelectrochemical (PEC) platform has been developed for determining Hg2+ with "turn-on" signal output by synergistically using CdS nanowires (NWs) and ZnS quantum dots (QDs). CdS NWs was first prepared and then deposited with ZnS QDs to yield ZnS/CdS nanocomposite with type-II heterostructure. It was found that the as-constructed ZnS/CdS heterostructure can exhibit excellent photoelectrochemical characteristics by separately employing CdS NWs and ZnS QDs as the photosensitizer and Hg2+-recognition probe. What's more, the constructed analysis platform could display specifically enhanced photocurrent responses to Hg2+ under the visible light via the selective ion-exchange reaction. The in-situ formation of ternary HgS/ZnS/CdS could be thus expected with double type-II heterostructures so as to further enhance the transferring and separation of charges. A linear response can be achieved for Hg2+ in the concentration range from 0.0010 to 5.0 nM, with a detection limit of 0.40 pM. Moreover, the application feasibility of the developed sensor with ZnS/CdS heterostructure could be testified by detecting Hg2+ ions in environmental waters. Such a route of in-situ formation of double type-II heterostructure might promise the wide applications for designing different visible light-driven PEC sensors for probing heavy metals like Hg2+ with the "turn-on" signal output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]