Efficient simultaneously quantitative and qualitative detection of multiple phenols using highly water-stable Co2+‐doped Cu-BTC as electrocatalyst

Abstract

Abstract: A rational design of water-stable and high-efficiency MOFs-based electrocatalysts thus achieving durable sensitive electrochemical sensors remains a great challenge. Herein, water-stable Co2+ doped-Cu2+ and 1,3,5-benzene tricarboxylic coordination polymers (Cu-BTC@Co) were designed to construct a sensitive and durable electrochemical sensor for simultaneously detecting multiple hazardous phenols. Combining the Mulliken charges of H2O and BTC, the mechanism of the water-stability of Cu-BTC@Co was discussed, which is owing to the intermolecular force (Cu-BTC and Cu-OH2) and the intramolecular force (π-π bond, COO-H2O hydrogen bond), making Cu2+ coordination to BTC being much stronger than water, thereby the Cu-BTC@Co with strong stability in the water environment was achieved. Moreover, doping Co2+ into Cu-BTC not only improves the electron transfer efficiency of Cu-BTC but also enhances the catalytical efficiency of Cu-BTC. Combining the high-efficiency selective catalysis of Cu-BTC@Co and oxidation potential difference among multiple phenols, the Cu-BTC@Co sensor can simultaneously quantitative and qualitative detection of multiple phenols with good multicycle sensing performance. This article clarifies the mechanism of synthesizing water-stable MOFs and promotes the application of MOFs-based sensors in the quantitative analysis of water pollutants.