Circularly Polarized Short-Wave Infrared Photodetection and Disinfection of E. coli Triggered by Biomolecule-Mediated Chiral PbS Films via Solid-State Ligand Exchange

Abstract

Chirality-dependent optoelectronics and biological interactions have both attracted significant attention over the past several decades. However, interdisciplinary synergy between these two fields remains limited, largely due to the lack of theoretical support and practical demonstrations. Herein, we report the fabrication of biomolecule-tailored chiral PbS films via a solid-state ligand exchange method, enabling the achievement of a maximum chiroptical anisotropic factor (g-factor) of 2.36 × 10⁻³. These chiral PbS films were integrated into circularly polarized short-wave infrared (CP-SWIR) photodetectors, exhibiting a high responsivity beyond 0.3 A/W and a detectivity beyond 8.6 × 10¹¹ Jones under the irradiation (L-PbS film under left-handed CP-SWIR). More importantly, such chirality-mediated phenomenon enables antibacterial activity through a photo-microcurrent generation effect. It eventually provides a significant 39% difference in E. coli mortality rate when the L-PbS-based photosensitive device is subject to homochiral versus heterochiral CP-SWIR illumination. This strategy offers a robust platform for cross-collaborations between chiroptical optoelectronic devices and chirality-related biological issues.

Keywords

chiral PbS film / circularly polarized short-wave infrared photodetection / disinfection / solid-state ligand exchange

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RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2026 The Author(s). Aggregate published by SCUT, AIEI, and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.