Core-shell architectured NH₂-UiO-66@ZIF-8/multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposite-based sensitive electrochemical...

Amino functionalized zirconium-based metal-organic framework (NH₂-UiO-66) and zinc-based zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) were integrated to develop a core-shell architectured hybrid material (NH₂-UiO-66@ZIF-8, NU66@Z8). The morphology and structure evolutions of core-shell NU6@Z8 were investigated by FE-SEM, XRD, FTIR, and XPS. The NU66@Z8 combined with carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CMWCNT) was deposited on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for fabricating an electrochemical platform towards detecting Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺. The NU66@Z8/CMWCNT/GCE revealed significantly improved electrochemical performance for determination of Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ compared with the individual components, which can be attributed to the strong adsorption capacity, unique core-shell structure, and large electrochemical active surface area of NU66@Z8/CMWCNT. Under the optimal conditions, the developed sensor exhibited excellent sensing capability with a low limit of detection (Pb²⁺,1 nM; Cu²⁺, 10 nM) and a wide determination range (Pb²⁺,0.003-70 μM; Cu²⁺, 0.03-50 μM). The sensor showed high selectivity towards common interfering ions and good repeatability. The real sample recoveries of proposed sensor were in the range 95.0-103% for Pb²⁺ (RSD ≤ 5.3%) and 94.2-106% for Cu²⁺ (RSD ≤ 5.9%), suggesting that the NU66@Z8/CMWCNT is suitable for examining trace heavy metals in natural environment.