Metal-Organic Frameworks and their Derived Structures as Catalysts for Electrochemical Sensors

Abstract

Metal-Organic Frameworks are innovative materials that display interesting redox properties with multiple applications in electroanalytical chemistry and storage purposes. MOFs metal nodes present a redox pair (M2+/M3+) in the presence of alkaline electrolytes, which catalyse the electro-oxidation or a reduction of diverse kinds of molecules. This behaviour is used as the basic principle in the design of electrochemical sensors (modified electrodes) for the smart recognition and quantification of biomolecules and hazardous compounds by using inexpensive techniques such as voltammetry or chronoamperometry. In this regard, MOFs are combined with high conductive nanomaterials to create hybrid composites that increase the electron conductivity to macroscopic levels, and enhance the electro-analytical signal in comparison with the use of pristine MOFs. MOFs are also used to produce other kinds of framework structures such as carbonaceous frameworks embedded with nanoparticles. These derived materials have extensive applications in glucose electrochemical sensors. Herein, the principle of electrocatalysts with MOFs and their derived materials, the elaboration of electrochemical sensors and the recent application of MOFs materials as a catalyst on electrochemical sensors will be presented in this section.