Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are promising materials for detection of biomolecules due to their large surface-to-volume ratio. However, their poor response to the cellular environment hinders the realization of high-performance 2D TMDC sensors. Here, we present a hierarchical Raman scattering sensor consisting of the WS2 directly grown on an array of three-dimensional (3D) WO3 nanohelixes (NHs) by sulfurization. Both the adsorption of biomolecules and the proliferation of cells are significantly promoted for the 3D WS2/WO3 NH sensor compared to the control sensor with sulfurized WS2 on 2D WO3 film, leading to much enhanced sensitivity to dopamine. In addition, according to the in vitro test using PC12 cells, the 3D WS2/WO3 NH sensor shows a significant increase in hydrophobicity and Raman frequency shift, indicating that both the attachment of cells and the detection of biomolecules are improved.
Keywords: 3D nanostructure; Raman frequency shift; biomolecule detection; cytocompatibility; tungsten disulfide.