Electrocatalyst based on Ni-MOF intercalated with amino acid-functionalized graphene nanoplatelets for the determination of endocrine disruptor bisphenol A

In this study, controlled growth of Ni-MOF was decorated in amino acid-functionalized graphene nanoplatelets (FxGnP) by a solvothermal approach. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized by various spectral, microscopic, and electrochemical techniques. FE-SEM and TEM image results exhibited the sheet-like structure of FxGnP and spherical-like Ni-MOF with an average size of 5.6 μm. Appreciably, the size of Ni-MOF was reduced to ∼2.3 μm while introducing the FxGnP. The presence of a large number of hydroxyl and epoxy functional groups of FxGnP acts as a nucleation center and restricted the uncontrolled growth of Ni-MOF. The FxGnP-Ni-MOF composite was modified on GCE and then utilized for the oxidation of bisphenol A (BPA). The nanocomposite material showed a sharp peak at +0.38 V vs. Ag/AgCl (saturated NaCl) with a stable response for BPA due to their less particle size with high electroactive surface area and higher electrical conductance, whereas bare GCE failed to the stable determination of BPA. The developed assay for determination of BPA exhibited a wide linear range from 2 × 10⁻⁹ M to 10 × 10⁻⁶ M, LOD 0.184 × 10⁻⁹ M and sensitivity of 247.65 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻². The FxGnP-Ni-MOF/GCE showed good stability and reproducibility against BPA. Finally, the present electrocatalyst was effectively utilized for the quantitative determination of BPA in water samples and obtained results were validated with HPLC method.