Synthesis of Co/Co₃O₄ Heterostructure in N-Doped Porous, Amorphous Carbon: A Superior Electrochemical Sensor for Sensitive Determination of Alectinib in Various Fluids

Highly crystallized Co and Co₃O₄ nanoparticles embedded in an N-doped amorphous carbon matrix have been successfully fabricated by the molten-salt-assisted method using KClO₃ and zeolitic imidazolate framework-12 (ZIF-12). Pyrolysis of ZIF-12 with different concentrations of KClO₃ leads to embedded Co and Co₃O₄ nanoparticles in a conductive amorphous carbon network. The impact of salt concentration on the morphology and electrochemical performance of these composites was investigated for electrochemical sensor applications. By employing a straightforward and efficient technique, Co/Co₃O₄ heterostructures were successfully synthesized in N-doped porous amorphous carbon. The Co/Co₃O₄ carbon heterostructures were optimized by varying the salt concentration, resulting in a significant electrochemical sensor performance for detecting ALC in both bulk and biological fluids. The sensor demonstrates excellent sensitivity (62.97 nmol/L) and selectivity toward ALC, with a wide linear range (0.2-2 μM) and a low detection limit (18.89 nM). Furthermore, it displays remarkable stability and reproducibility, positioning it as a strong contender for practical use in pharmaceutical analysis and biomedical research. This study presents a significant advancement in electrochemical sensing technology and underscores the potential of Co/Co₃O₄ heterostructures in the development of high-performance sensors for detecting bioactive compounds in complex matrices.