Light-activated g-C 3 N 4 photoelectrodes with a selective molecular sieve for in vivo quantification of oxygen levels in the living mouse brain.

A novel micro-photoelectrode with a selective molecular sieve was created for in vivo monitoring of O 2 levels in the mouse brain. An ITO optical fiber modified by graphitized carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) in situ was employed as the light activated substrate to provide rich photo-induced electrons for the catalytic reduction of O 2 . Meanwhile, the porous hybrid layer composed of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 and polysulfone was constructed over the g-C 3 N 4 surface as the molecular sieve to synergically enhance the selectivity of O 2 detections. By advantage of this useful tool, the real time variation of the O 2 level was successfully determined in the mouse brain upon ischemia.