title: Ferrocene peapod modified electrodes: preparation, characterization, and mediation of H2O2.
abstract: Electrochemical properties of a new nanomaterial ferrocene (Fc) peapod, Fc-filled single-walled carbon nanotubes (Fc@SWNTs), have been investigated in an aqueous solution in detail by preparing different kinds of Fc@SWNTs-modified glassy carbon electrodes (Fc@SWNTs/GCE and Fc@SWNTs-gel/GCE). One pair of surface-confined redox waves corresponding to the couple of Fc/Fc+ is obtained, which indicates that Fc encapsulated inside SWNTs retains electrochemical activity. The Fc@SWNTs-gel/GCE shows better electrochemical reversibility due to the existence of room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL). Furthermore, it shows excellent mediation of H2O2 based on Fc/Fc+ used as electron-transfer mediators for oxidation of H2O2 to O2 and reduction to H2O, suggesting specific properties of Fc@SWNTs due to a combination of Fc and SWNTs. The interaction between Fc and SWNTs is also characterized by UV-vis-NIR spectrometry and Raman spectrometry. A Fc@SWNTs-based sensor for H2O2 with a determination limit of 5 microM is fabricated, and it shows good stability and reproducibility. This work not only demonstrates that the Fc peapod is a new kind of functional nanomaterial but also appears promising in constructing novel chemical and biosensors and fuel cells.
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
authors.forename: Nijuan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Lunhui
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Zhujin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Nanqiang
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhennan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Zhiwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Meixian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yuanhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shao