A nitrite sensor based on bimetallic zeolitic imidazole framework derived Co/porous carbon nanorods

Measurement of nitrite is needed for the control of nitrite pollution and to decrease the health risks and protect environment. It is attractive to design novel electrocatalysts for the efficient electrochemical quantification of nitrite. Herein, a sequence of Co, N -doped-porous carbon rods (CoN-PCRs) were designed and prepared through the calcination of rod-shaped mixed-metal zeolitic imidazolate framework precursors (ZIF-L) with different Co/Zn ratios. It was observed that the highest surface area and best response were obtained with the CoN-PCRs-0.6. Furthermore, its morphology and structure were characterized by several techniques. Additionally, the electrochemical sensing performances of CoN-PCRs-0.6 to nitrite were studied. Benefiting from the structural merits, the constructed sensor showed a low detection limit of 0.14 μM and achieved two wide dynamic ranges 0.2–4000 μM and 4000–100000 μM. The sensor also possessed good specificity, reproducibility, and stability toward nitrite quantification. Ultimately, the rapid and accurate measurement of nitrite in tap water was successfully realized.