Electrochemical investigation of a new Cu-MOF and its electrocatalytic activity towards H2O2 oxidation in alkaline solution

• A new Cu-MOF was successfully prepared under hydrothermal conditions.
• Electrochemical behavior of the Cu-MOF has been studied in NaOH aqueous solution.
• The Cu-MOF shows good electrocatalytic activity towards H2O2 oxidation.

A new Cu metal–organic framework (Cu-MOF), [Cu(adp)(BIB)(H2O)]n (BIB = 1,4-bisimidazolebenzene; H2adp = adipic acid), is synthesised under hydrothermal conditions. Single-crystal X-ray analysis reveals a three-dimensional supramolecular architecture with channels originating from two-dimensional layers extended by hydrogen bonds. The cyclic voltammogram of a [Cu(adp)(BIB)(H2O)]n-modified electrode shows a pair of redox peaks at ca. 0.43 V in 0.1 M NaOH solution corresponding to CuIII(OH)-MOF/CuII(H2O)-MOF couple. The Cu-MOF-modified electrode shows high electrocatalytic activity towards H2O2 oxidation with a linear range from 0.1 μM to 2.75 μM and a detection limit of 0.068 μM. Thus, Cu-MOF is a promising material for H2O2 detection.