MOF-derived BC-Co@NC nanoarchitectures coupled with FS-DVC algorithm for resolving overlapping voltammetric signals of catechol/hydroquinone isomers

• Published in: Electrochimica acta Vol. 539; p. 147136
• Main Authors: Zeng, Xiangrong, Xiao, Hongyu, Lei, Yaxuan, Ye, Sifei, Liu, Peng, Kong, Zhuohua, Wen, Yangping, Tan, Guixia, Gong, Xia, Li, Mingfang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2025
• Subjects: Derivative algorithm; Dihydroxybenzene isomer; Electrochemical discrimination; MOF-derived carbon nanoarchitecture; Overlapping voltammetric signal; Overlapping voltammetric signal; Electrochemical discrimination; Dihydroxybenzene isomer; Derivative algorithm; MOF-derived carbon nanoarchitecture
• ISSN: 0013-4686
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2025.147136

•Electrochemical discrimination of o-/p-dihydroxybenzene isomer was realized by derivative voltammetry.•A new sensing paradigm driven by material-algorithm dual-engine was established.•Metal-nonmetal co-doped carbon via topologically oriented carbonization was developed. The simultaneous electrochemical detection of catechol (CC) and hydroquinone (HQ) isomers is hindered by overlapping voltammetric signals, creating a persistent sensitivity-selectivity-accuracy paradox. Herein, we present a synergistic sensing platform integrating BC-Co@NC nanoarchitectures (engineered via topotactic carbonization to form 3D hierarchical pores with atomically dispersed Co-N4 sites) and a first- and second-derivative voltammetry cascade (FS-DVC) optimized by Savitzky-Golay algorithm. This dual-engine strategy achieves 152 mV interpeak separation, ultra-low limits of detection (0.09 nM for CC, 0.12 nM for HQ), a linear range spanning four orders of magnitude (0.3-500 μM), and robust performance in environmental matrices (95.2-99.1% recoveries in agricultural water/soil). This work establishes a new paradigm for electrochemical isomer discrimination through the synergistic fusion of tailored material design and advanced signal mathematics.