Synthesis of hollow corn-like P-doped bimetallic FeNi-MIL-88 nanorods using a self-template strategy for nitrobenzene monitoring

Abstract

This study developed a hollow, corn-like P-doped bimetallic FeNi-MIL-88 nanosphere composite, referred to as P-FeNi-MIL-88@C, using a simple self-template strategy. The synthesis began with the hydrothermal formation of a stable bipyramidal FeNi-MIL-88 precursor, where Ni was incorporated into Fe-MIL-88 nanorods. Subsequently, phosphorus was introduced through a one-step phosphidation process. The inclusion of Ni enhanced surface atom mobility and rearrangement, yielding a denser and more uniform particle distribution, which improved electron transfer efficiency. The hollow structure of the P-doped corn-like P-FeNi-MIL-88@C reduced reaction resistance and accelerated electron transfer, leading to exceptional electrocatalytic performance for nitrobenzene (NB) detection. The sensor demonstrated high sensitivity, a broad linear range (0.37–1106.67 μM), and a low detection limit (0.17 μM, S/N = 3). When tested with real water samples, it achieved a recovery rate of 98.7–102.1 %, underscoring its applicability for practical environmental monitoring.