Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) selectively
generated
in the nanopores of a zirconium-based porphyrinic metal–organic
framework (MOF), NU-902, is synthesized by in situ polymerization with the coexistence of MOF crystals and excessive
poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) followed by the successive washing
steps to remove the well-dispersed PEDOT:PSS from the MOF-based solid.
For comparison, PEDOT-NU-902 composite with PEDOT solely present between
MOF crystals and that containing both pore-confined PEDOT and interparticle
PEDOT are also synthesized by physical blending method and the in situ polymerization without adding PSS, respectively.
Crystallinity, morphology, porosity, and electrochemical behavior
of these PEDOT-NU-902 composites are investigated. Since both PEDOT
and the porphyrinic linkers of NU-902 are active electrocatalysts
for nitrite oxidation, these composites along with the pristine NU-902
and PEDOT are applied for electrochemical nitrite sensors in aqueous
electrolytes. The composite with PEDOT solely confined within the
MOF pores can effectively reduce the nonfaradaic current originating
from PEDOT while achieving a moderate catalytic faradaic current for
nitrite, which results in its smallest limit of detection (LOD) for
nitrite determination compared to other PEDOT-NU-902 composites and
the pristine materials. The electrochemical nitrite sensor based on
pore-confined PEDOT achieves a sensitivity of 133 μA/mM cm2, a linear range of up to 1.6 mM, and a LOD of 1.71 μM.
By utilizing nitrite detection as a proof-of-concept demonstration
here, the findings suggest the unique role of the pore-confined conducting
polymers within structurally rigid MOFs in electrochemical sensors
and shed the light on the design and applications of such nanocomposites
for a range of electroanalytical purposes.