Design of thioether-functionalized carboxylate linked nickel-MOF for versatile electrochemical and biological application

The design of novel multifunctional metal organic frameworks is crucial for advancing next-generation materials capable of addressing energy and biological challenges. In this work, a thioether-functionalized carboxylate linker was designed to synthesize a robust Ni-MOF with synergistic electrochemical and biological performance. The Ni-O-C coordination framework provides structural stability and redox-active sites, while the incorporated thioether functionalities contribute to favorable electrochemical characteristics. Comprehensive characterization confirmed a crystalline, thermally stable, mesoporous framework with uniform elemental distribution. Electrochemical evaluation revealed excellent pseudocapacitive behavior, delivering a reasonable specific capacitance of 260 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, along with low charge-transfer resistance and efficient ion diffusion, highlighting its suitability for supercapacitor. In parallel, the Ni-MOF demonstrated potent biological activity using minimum inhibition concentration, exhibiting durable antibacterial efficacy of 0.125 mg mL−1 for Escherichia coli and 0.250 mg mL−1 for Staphylococcus aureus, notable antifungal activity of 0.500 mg mL−1 for Candida albicans, and a concentration-dependent antioxidant response of 29.13% at 100 µg. These combined attributes establish a strategic framework for linker engineering in the development of thioether-carboxylate linked Ni-MOF that integrate electrochemical and biological studies within a single unified material.