Breakthrough H₂O₂ Detection Eliminates Autofluorescence Interference

Researchers from Chengdu University and Hefei University of Technology have developed a groundbreaking optical detection system for hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) that overcomes long-standing challenges in real-world sample analysis. The team engineered persistent luminescence nanoparticles (PLNPs) coated with a manganese dioxide (MnO₂) shell, creating a switchable probe that restores bright red luminescence when exposed to H₂O₂. This innovative approach eliminates autofluorescence interference that has traditionally plagued optical sensing methods in complex matrices like food and biological samples. The findings were published in Food Quality and Safety, representing a significant advancement in detection technology that enables both instrument-based quantitative analysis and direct naked-eye visualization without requiring continuous excitation.

The PLNPs@MnO₂ probe operates through a sophisticated mechanism where the MnO₂ shell initially quenches luminescence through interfacial electron transfer, creating a "turned-off" state. When H₂O₂ is present in mildly acidic conditions, it rapidly reduces MnO₂ to Mn²⁺, interrupting the quenching pathway and immediately restoring persistent luminescence with exceptional sensitivity—achieving a detection limit of 0.079 μmol/L. This sensitivity significantly outperforms conventional fluorescence or electrochemical sensors while maintaining strong anti-interference performance against common ions, sugars, amino acids, and proteins. The technology demonstrated remarkable reliability in real-world applications, showing recovery rates between 90.56% and 109.73% when tested in bottled water, milk, and contact lens solutions, confirming its practical utility across diverse sample environments.

This autofluorescence-free detection strategy offers transformative potential for food safety monitoring, environmental inspection, and biomedical assays. The capability for naked-eye detection makes it particularly valuable in remote or resource-limited settings where laboratory instruments are unavailable. According to the study's corresponding author, the key innovation lies in overcoming autofluorescence interference that has long limited optical sensing in real-world matrices. Future development may enable integration into smart packaging, wearable chemical sensors, and real-time contamination alert systems. Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province and published with DOI 10.1093/fqsafe/fyaf040, this technology represents a major step toward safer processing environments and improved consumer product quality assurance through simplified, accelerated H₂O₂ detection.