Review—Metal Organic Framework Based Nanomaterials for Electrochemical Sensing of Toxic Heavy Metal Ions: Progress and Their Prospects

Heavy metal ions, which have harmful effects on living organisms, are extremely toxic to the environment. Therefore, with quick response time and low cost analytical instrument, it is of immense demand to assess the toxic levels of heavy metal ions. A promising and systematic way of perceiving the selective determination of metal ions in polluted water is electrochemical detection. Recent developments in metal organic frameworks (MOF) have ignited a considerable interest in the metal ion sensor field as an interesting class of electrode material. This paper reviews the MOF-based material as an electrode detection platform for toxic heavy metal ions. The rapidly evolving MOF has a 3D structure with tunable pore sizes, and a high specific area containing a large number of ions makes it ideal for ion exchange capture of toxic metal ions. The toxicity levels in the atmosphere of heavy metal ions such as arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium and recent advances in the use of MOF as an active electrode material for estimating these metal ions are discussed. The key advantages and disadvantages of electrochemical sensors based on MOF have also been evaluated, and the potential prospect of improving performance is also presented. Thus, the compiled review work could provide a torchlight and a pathway for more metal ion sensor research that gives science research and community research a vast dimension.