MOF-templated synthesis of cobalt-doped zinc oxide superparticles for detection of the 3-hydroxy-2-butanone microbial biomarker

It is important to detect the foodborne pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes ( LMs ), in food and water since the bacteria often induced serious illnesses in the global world. The bacteria generate the microbial volatile organic compound (VOC), 3-hydroxy-2-butanone (3H-2B), which could be used as a biomarker to indirectly detect the microbial contamination. Herein, ordered cobalt-doped zinc oxide superparticles (Co 3 O 4 /ZnO SPs) have been constructed by using MOFs as templates and have been employed as a sensing material to develop gas sensors for highly sensitive and selective detection of LMs . The 1% Co 3 O 4 /ZnO SPs based gas sensor showed a fast response, highest sensitivity and selectivity towards the 3 H-2B when compared to other dosage of Co doping. The proposed gas sensing mechanism is discussed. By using the Co 3 O 4 /ZnO SPs based sensors, a rapid bacteria detection platform was developed, with a high sensitivity and selectivity to trace the LMs at low concentrations . The gas sensing performance of the Co 3 O 4 /ZnO SPs based sensors has great potential applications for fast and sensitive detection of microbial contaminations. The study also introduces a way to construct MOF derived superstructure nanomaterials for gas sensing and other applications. Cobalt-doped zinc oxide superparticles (Co 3 O 4 /ZnO SPs) derived from metal organic framework (MOF) templates, shows high sensitivity and selectivity towards 3-hydroxy-2-butanone (3H-2B), a microbial biomaker of listeria monocytogenes, via a gas sensor. • A uniform-structured cobalt-doped zinc oxide superparticles (Co 3 O 4 /ZnO SPs) were synthesized by using MOFs as template. • The Co 3 O 4 /ZnO SPs were applied to construct volatile organic compound gas sensor for the microbial biomarker detection. • The gas sensor shows high sensitivity and selectivity towards 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, a biomaker of listeria monocytogenes . • The study introduces a way to construct MOF derived superstructure nanomaterials for gas sensing and other applications.