A Redox Accessible Cu-BTC Metal Organic Framework-based Nanocomposite for Selective and Sensitive Electrochemical Sensing of Triclosan in Real Sample

Abstract

The extensive use of triclosan in personal care, household cleaning products and medical devices poses a risk to the living beings and ecological systems due to its substantial release into surface water and ground water resources and harmful long-term effects on aquatic creatures [1, 2]. Therefore, it has become crucial to find triclosan in various personal care everyday products and drinking water in order to preserve both the environment and living things. In this respect, a simple, quick, and inexpensive nonenzymatic sensor using a modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) decorated with rGO/Cu-MOF/NiCo ternary nanocomposite has been developed for the first time as a sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor for the detection of triclosan.The intended nanocomposite was synthesized using a simple and one-step hydrothermal synthetic process. Later, to explore the effective synthesis of the intended nanocomposite, the nanocomposite was comprehensively characterized using a variety of advanced analytical methods, including FTIR, XRD, Raman, TGA, BET, SEM, and TEM with EDS mapping, and XPS. First, the XRD investigation shows that the NiCo bimetallic alloy nanostructure was successfully formed. In addition to NiCo alloy nanoparticles the formation of Cu-MOF and their rGO based nanocomposite was confirmed using XRD. Later, the high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) analysis evidenced formation of uniform NiCo bimetallic alloy nanoparticles and its distribution in pore of MOF and surface of rGO/Cu-MOF nanostructure. Further, the electrochemical activity and sensing performance was examined by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and differential pulse voltammetry. Then, by adjusting various sensing parameters such as material loading (rGO/Cu-MOF/NiCo), pH, temperature, and incubation duration, the optimal sensing conditions were found. Under ideal sensor circumstances, the designed nanomaterial is capable of detecting a broad range of triclosan concentrations (1μM–0.01nM). Later on, the reusability, stability and interference study of the sensor were also studied.The synergistic bindingbetween these three nanostructures (rGO, Cu-MOF, and NiCo bimetallic alloy nanoparticles) with large surface area, increased active sites, and good adsorption capacity results in rapid electron transmission during the sensing application in the nanocomposite, which is the cause of the synthesized nanomaterial's increased sensitivity.