Abstract: In this paper, FeVO₄ materials were prepared via a facile hydrothermal method under different pHs and developed as highly efficient biomimetic catalysts for the first time. Different FeVO4 materials with different crystal structures, morphologies and surface properties showed distinct peroxidase-like activities. Experimental results showed that the products obtained at pH = 4 (FeVO₄-4) possessed a belt-like nano-structure with a large BET specific surface area and exhibited the best intrinsic peroxidase-like activity compared to other FeVO4 materials. FeVO₄-4 nanobelts (NBs) could efficiently catalyze the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of H₂O₂ to generate a blue oxide. Based on the highly efficient catalytic activity of FeVO₄-4 NBs, a novel system for optical determination of H₂O₂ was successfully established, and the detection limit of H₂O₂ could reach 0.2 mu M. FeVO4-4 NBs also exhibited excellent selectivity, reproducibility, long-term stability, and easy recovery property. Furthermore, a peroxidase mimetic mechanism of FeVO4-4 NBs was proposed based on the active species trapping experiments. This work developed a novel, accessible and highly sensitive system for visual detection of H₂O₂, making FeVO₄-4 NBs a potential biomimetic catalysts in H₂O₂ detection and biomedical analysis. 

KeyWords Plus: COLORIMETRIC DETECTION; HORSERADISH-PEROXIDASE; CATALYTIC-ACTIVITY; GLUCOSE DETECTION; MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES; ARTIFICIAL ENZYMES; VISUAL DETECTION; H₂O₂; MIMETICS; NANOSHEETS

Published in SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL, 233 162-172; 10.1016/j.snb.2016.04.041 OCT 5 2016