An ultrasensitive dietary caffeic acid electrochemical sensor based on Pd-Ru bimetal catalyst doped nano sponge-like carbon

Caffeic acid (CA) is widely present in the human daily diet, and a reliable CA detection method is beneficial to food safety. Herein, we constructed a CA electrochemical sensor employing a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) which was modified by the bimetallic Pd-Ru nanoparticles decorated N-doped spongy porous carbon obtained by pyrolysis of the energetic metal-organic framework (MET). The high-energy bond N-N--N in MET explodes to form N-doped sponge-like carbon materials (N-SCs) with porous structures, boosting the adsorptive capacity for CA. The addition of Pd-Ru bimetal improves the electrochemical sensitivity. The linear range of the PdRu/N-SCs/ GCE sensor is 1 nM-100 nM and 100 nM-15 & mu;M, with a low detection limit (LOD) of 0.19 nM. It has a high sensitivity (55 & mu;A/& mu;M) and repeatability. The PdRu/N-SCs/GCE sensor has been used to detect CA in actual samples of red wine, strawberries, and blueberries, providing a novel approach for CA detection in food analysis.

Automated summary

In this study, a CA electrochemical sensor was developed by modifying a glassy carbon electrode with bimetallic Pd-Ru nanoparticles decorated N-doped spongy porous carbon. The sensor showed high sensitivity and repeatability, and could detect CA in actual samples of red wine, strawberries, and blueberries, providing a novel approach for food analysis.