Preparation and electrochemical properties of cobalt-phthalocyanine-decorated Fe3O4 nanoparticles

Abstract

Phthalocyanines (Pcs) have been known for excellent electron transfer properties owing to their extended [Formula: see text]-conjugated structures. In addition, functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text] NPs) have attracted considerable interest owing to their unique spectral and electronic properties. Hence, it can be reasonably expected that Fe[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text] NPs decorated with Pc molecules could provide a useful electrocatalytic system. Herein, we present the preparation and electrochemical properties of cobalt-phthalocyanine (CoPc)-decorated Fe[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text] NPs (CoPc@Fe[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text]. The Fe[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text] NPs were first coated with a silica layer to produce SiO[Formula: see text]@Fe[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text]. Subsequently, CoPc with a siloxane end group (CoPc-TEOS) was anchored to the outer surface of the SiO[Formula: see text]@Fe[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text]. The CoPc@Fe[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text] thus prepared was fully analyzed using various characterization methods. Distinctive electrochemical responses of CoPc and CoPc@Fe[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text] in the presence of picric acid were observed, demonstrating the potential application of the current approach to electrochemical catalysis.