Modulation of copper sites in porphyrin metal–organic frameworks for electrochemical ascorbic acid sensing

Abstract

Two metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with different Cu-centered coordination structures were synthesized. By introducing 4,4-bipyridine as a linker in the Cu-MOFs, we have discovered that Cu–O, instead of Cu–N, is the active site with higher electrocatalytical activity towards ascorbic acid, which is essential to understand and develop Cu-based ascorbic acid sensors.