Morphology-tuned green synthesis of ZIF-67 for non-enzymatic electrochemical detection of glucose

Abstract

Co-based zeolitic imidazolate framework material (ZIF-67) has both the comprehensive stability of inorganic zeolites and the general advantages of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and has devolved as a widely concerned material for electrochemical sensing. ZIF-67 materials with rhombic dodecahedron are synthesized in organic solvent, but morphology-tuned synthesis of ZIF-67 materials can be performed in environment-friendly solvents, usually water. In this work, all ZIF-67 materials were synthesized by three green synthetic methods taking water as a solvent without pollutants. The morphology of ZIF-67 was precisely tuned by changing experimental conditions. ZIF-67 materials were characterized by physicochemical methods and electrochemical techniques, and ZIF-67 materials with different morphologies exhibited different electrocatalytic activities toward the oxidation of glucose. To our amazement, ZIF-67 with an ordered flower-like structures (ZIF-67(W3–25)) has the best performances for non-enzymatic electrochemical detection of glucose, and will be likely to an ideal modifier for a new generation of enzyme-free glucose sensors.