In situ hierarchical encapsulation of bimetallic selenides into honeycomb-like nitrogen doped porous carbon nanosheets for highly sensitive and selective guanosine detection

An innovative electrochemical nanocomposite for the detection of guanosine (Gua) was proposed by in situ encapsulation of nickel–iron bimetallic selenides confined into honeycomb-like nitrogen doped porous carbon nanosheets, denoted as (Ni,Fe)Se2/N-PCNs. The porous carbon nanosheets were prepared by utilizing nickel–iron layered double hydroxide (Ni-Fe LDH) as the substrate and zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF-67) nanocrystals as the sacrificial templates via hydrothermal synthesis, followed by a process of acid etching and pyrolysis selenylation. Interestingly, the nickel-ferric bimetallic selenides material (Ni,Fe)Se2, is rarely fabricated successfully using selenylation treatment, which is a highly conductive and robust support to promote the electron transport. Meanwhile, the obtained (Ni,Fe)Se2/N-PCNs have the favorable architectural features of both unique three-dimensional (3D) porous structural and hierarchical connectivity, which are expected to provide more active sites for electrochemical reactions and ease of electron, ion, and biomolecule penetration. Benefiting from the inherent virtues of its composition, together with unique structural advantages, the (Ni,Fe)Se2/N-PCNs possess ideal sensing properties for guanosine detection with a low detection limit of 1.20 × 10-8 M, a wide linear range of 5.30 × 10-8 ~ 2.27 × 10-4 M and a good stability. Superb selectivity for potential interfering species and superb recoveries in serum suggests its feasibility for practical applications.