Interfacial engineering of 2D CoNi-MOF aerogel/carbon nanofiber hybrids for enhanced superoxide anion detection

Superoxide anion (O 2 •− ) plays a crucial role in various biological processes. However, its excess can induce oxidative stress, cause cell damage, and promote diseases. Achieving ultra-sensitive detection of O 2 •− remains a significant challenge. Herein, a nanocomposite that integrates two-dimensional (2D) CoNi metal-organic framework nanosheets (CoNi-MOF) aerogel with carbon nanofibers (CNFs) through robust interfacial interactions was designed and fabricated. This CoNi-MOF@CNFs nanocomposite is tailored for high-performance electrochemical sensing of O 2 •− . The 2D CoNi-MOF features a rich mesoporous structure, which provides a multitude of reactive active sites. Meanwhile, CNFs effectively accelerate the electron transfer rate. The synergistic interfacial interactions between CoNi-MOF and CNFs enable efficient collaborative catalysis of O 2 •− , significantly enhancing the electrochemical catalytic ability compared to each component individually. The CoNi-MOF@CNFs-based sensor exhibits a high sensitivity (341.97 µA µM − 1 cm − 2 ), a low detection limit (0.83 nM), and excellent stability (2400 s). More importantly, this fabricated sensor enables real-time monitoring of O 2 •− released by living cells, demonstrating its potential for disease diagnosis, highlighting the critical role of interfacial engineering in boosting the sensing performance of electrochemical sensors. Graphical abstract The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.