Laser-Induced Metal-Organic Framework-Derived Flexible Electrodes for Electrochemical Sensing

The successful development of a metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived Co/Co₃O₄/C core-shell composite integrated into laser-induced graphitic (LIG) carbon electrodes for electrochemical sensing is reported. The sensors are fabricated via a direct laser scribing technique using a UV laser (355 nm wavelength) to induce the photothermolysis of rationally selected ZIF-67 into the LIG matrix. Electrochemical characterization reveals that the incorporation of the laser-scribed ZIF-67-derived composite on the electrode surface reduces the impedance more than 100 times compared with bare LIG sensors. Comprehensive morphological, structural, and chemical analyses confirm the formation of porous LIG from the laser irradiation of polyimide, while the LIG+ZIF-67-derived composites feature size-controlled and uniformly distributed Co/Co₃O₄ core/shell nanoparticles (NPs) in the semihollow wasp-nest-like carbon matrix from photothermal decomposition of ZIF-67, embedded within the LIG electrode area. The high surface area and porosity of this ZIF-67-derived nitrogen-rich carbon facilitate charge transfer processes, whereas size-controlled Co/Co₃O₄ core/shell NPs offer accessible electrochemical active sites, making these LIG+ZIF-67-derived composite-based sensors promising materials for applications requiring high charge injection capability and low electrode/electrolyte interface impedance. The PI+Z67_L sensor exhibited a 400 times higher specific capacitance (2.4 mF cm^-2) compared to the PI_L sensor (6 μF cm^-2). This laser scribing approach enables the rapid and cost-effective fabrication of high-performance electrochemical sensors enhanced by the integration of tailored MOF-derived composites.