Three-birds-with-one-stone: MIP-decorated MOF/COF hybrid nanoplatform for multifunctional PEC sensing, adsorption, and photocatalytic degradation of patulin.

Rational design of photoactive materials is essential for the sensitive detection and efficient removal of hazardous contaminants. Herein, a visible-light-responsive covalent organic framework/metal-organic framework (COF/MOF) hybrid with uniform COF layers grown in-situ on the MOF surface, followed by the introduction of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) layer via a sol-gel process, was constructed for the PEC sensing, adsorption, and photocatalytic degradation of patulin. The hybrid architecture enhanced photoelectrochemical performance by facilitating charge separation and improving light harvesting. The resulting PEC sensor exhibited a wide linear range (0.1 nM-1 mM) and a low detection limit (0.055 nM), along with good reproducibility and stability in real samples. Moreover, the MIP/MOF/COF hybrid enabled efficient adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of patulin, driven by photogenerated holes and superoxide radicals. This work provides a promising strategy for the efficient and highly sensitive detection and removal of contaminants.