Synthesis and characterization of a composite incorporating metal organic frameworks, copper oxide nanoparticles, and graphene oxide and evaluating its multifaceted potential in photocatalysis and electrochemical sensing

The pursuit of affordable innovative materials with dual applications in photocatalytic water treatment and electrochemical sensing has intensified recently. This study successfully synthesized a new composite by combining graphene oxide (GO), Zn-2-PTZ (bis [5-(2-pyridyl) tetrazolato] zinc (II)), and copper oxide (CuO) via hydrothermal method. Comprehensive characterization via XRD, UV–Vis, FT-IR, XPS, Surface area analysis, SEM-EDX, TGA, photocatalytic, and electrochemical analyses confirmed the composite’s remarkable versatility. With a precisely engineered 2.14 eV bandgap, Mott-Schottky analyses unveiled the emergence of a p-n-p heterojunction, attributing to the remarkable 99.92% degradation of methylene blue dye in a mere 30-min exposure to sunlight, facilitated by H₂O₂, boasting a photocatalytic rate of 0.22703 min⁻¹. Moreover, the composite-based electrochemical sensor developed by employing techniques like Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) demonstrated exceptional electrocatalytic detection of imatinib, with two linear ranges (0.01–20 and 20–240 μM), with a limit of detection (LOD) of 3.05 µM, high accuracy, reproducibility, and stability. This innovative material undeniably establishes its exceptional dual-use potential in photocatalysis and electrochemical sensing.