Electrochemical sensors based on platinum-coated MOF-derived nickel-/N-doped carbon nanotubes (Pt/Ni/NCNTs) for sensitive nitrite detection

As excess nitrite has a serious threat to the human health and environment, constructing novel electrochemical sensors for sensitive nitrite detection is of great importance. In this report, platinum nanoparticles were deposited on nickel-/N-doped carbon nanotubes, which were obtained through a self-catalytically grown process with Ni- MOF as precursors. The asprepared Pt/Ni/NCNTs were applied as amperometric sensors and presented superior sensing properties for nitrite detection. Benefiting from the synergy of Pt and Ni/NCNTs, Pt/Ni/ NCNTs displayed much wider detection ranges (0.5-40 mM and 40-110 mM) for nitrite sensing. The sensitivity is 276.92 mu A -mM(-1) -cm(-2) and 224.39 mu A -mM(-1) -cm(-2), respectively. The detection limit is 0.17 mu M. The Pt/Ni/NCNTs sensors also showed good feasibility for nitrite sensing in real samples (milk and peach juice) analysis. The active Pt/Ni/NCNTs composites and facile fabrication technique may provide useful strategies to develop other sensitive nitrite sensors.