Cu2+ modified Zr-based metal organic framework-CTAB-graphene for sensitive electrochemical detection of sunset yellow

A sensitive electrochemical sensor for sunset yellow (SY) was constructed based on cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) functionalized graphene (Gr) and Cu/Zr-MOF electrode modified materials. The CTAB-Gr-Cu/Zr-MOF composites were synthesized by using a mild method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and EDX spectrum. The combination of Cu/Zr-MOF and graphene exhibited synergetic effect of the strong accumulation efficiency, fast electron transfer rate and more sensing sites towards the oxidation of SY. The new modified materials remarkably increased the electrochemical response of SY to 6.53-fold when comparing with bare electrode. Under the optimized conditions, the oxidation peak currents of SY had a linear relationship with its concentration in a wide range from 0.10 to 8.00 μM and 40.00–1000.00 μM, and the limit of detection was 6.68 nM (S/N = 3). The electrochemical method shows high sensitivity, stability, reproducibility and is successfully applied in the determination of SY in soft drinks.