Preparation of porous Cu metal organic framework/ZnTe nanorods/Au nanoparticles hybrid platform for nonenzymatic determination of catechol

Abstract A novel electrochemical sensor for the sensitive determination of catechol was developed based on the layer-by layer modification of the glassy carbon electrode surface with a copper metal organic framework (Cu-MOF), ZnTe nanorods (ZnTe NRs) and Au nanoparticles (Au NPs). ZnTe nanorods and Au nanoparticles were incorporated into a copper metal organic framework for the modification of glassy carbon electrode. Characterization of synthesized materials was performed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), FT-IR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electrochemical techniques. The composite electrode exhibited an excellent electrocatalytic activity with enhanced electrochemical response towards the oxidation of catechol, due to the synergistic effect of Cu-MOF/ZnTe NRs and Au nanoparticles. The effects of some parameters on the catechol response such as the amount of Cu-MOF/ZnTe NRs and Au NPs, pH, and scan rate were studied and optimized. The mechanism for electrochemical reaction of catechol was suggested as an ErCr pathway. Under the optimized condition, the calibration graph for catechol constructed using DPV technique at Cu-MOF/ZnTe NRs/AuNPs/GCE showed the linear range from 2.5 × 10−7 M to 3 × 10−4 M with a sensitivity of 142.03 μA mM−1 and a calculated detection limit of 16 nM (S/N = 3). The developed sensor was successfully applied for the determination of catechol and its derivatives in the pharmaceuticals, wastewater, well water, tap water, tea samples, and in biological fluids with satisfactory recovery data.