Facile electrochemical determination of acetaminophen at micromolar levels utilizing conjugated bimetallic Co–Zn porphyrin polymer electrodes as sensing platforms

The increasing threat of pharmaceutical pollution to public health and the environment is a critical issue. This research endeavors to tackle the challenge by developing an advanced electrochemical sensor for the accurate detection of acetaminophen (APAP). A highly sensitive electrochemical sensor, based on a porphyrin polymer, was designed for this purpose. The study shows that the bimetallic structure of the polymer significantly enhances the sensing efficiency of micropollutants. By analyzing its electrochemical properties, the sensor achieved an impressive detection limit of 0.46 μM for APAP, with a linear detection range from 4 to 1000 μM. The sensor also demonstrated strong anti-interference capabilities, along with high reproducibility and stability. Furthermore, it exhibited excellent performance in analyzing actual samples. Compared with single-metal polymer materials, bimetallic polymer materials exhibit the lowest charge transfer resistance, rapid electron transfer rates, and large electrochemical active areas, thereby enabling superior sensing capabilities.