Bridging porosity and conductivity: Comparative study of Mil101(Fe)-CQD-TiO2 and CQD-TiO2-MnO2 electrocatalysts for detection of cryptosporidium

The integration of highly effective electrocatalysts has revolutionized traditional sensing devices, paving the way for innovative applications in environmental monitoring and healthcare diagnostics. This study focuses on the performance, stability, selectivity, and sensitivity of metal-metal-carbon-based electrocatalysts CQD-TiO 2 -MnO 2 and evaluates their effectiveness in the electrochemical detection of Cryptosporidium . The electrocatalysts were synthesized using a hydrothermal method and characterized through various techniques to confirm their integration. Results showed that CQD-TiO 2 -MnO 2 demonstrated superior electrochemical kinetics compared to the Mil101(Fe)-CQD-TiO 2 electrocatalyst. This CQD-TiO 2 -MnO 2 variant also had a higher electrochemically active surface area, which contributed to a lower limit of detection (LOD) for Cryptosporidium at 0.0012 ng mL -1 , along with a high sensitivity of 0.197 mA ng mL -1 . The aptasensor exhibited good performance across different water matrices, yielding recovery rates ranging from 65% to 96%. These findings demonstrate the sensor's resilience to matrix effects and its suitability for practical environmental monitoring, underscoring its viability for on-site and routine water-quality assessments. • Metal-metal-carbon-based electrocatalysts yield better stability and sensitivity • The aptasensor demonstrated excellent performance across different water matrices • CQD-TiO 2 -MnO 2 -based sensors are well-suited for point-of-care applications