Electrochemical Properties of the Oxo‐Manganese‐Phenanthroline Complex Immobilized on Ion‐Exchange Polymeric Film and Its Application as Biomimetic Sensor for Sulfite Ions

A biomimetic sensor containing the oxo‐bridged dinuclear manganese‐phenanthroline complex incorporated into a cation‐exchange polymeric film deposited onto glassy carbon electrode for detection of sulfite was studied. Cyclic voltammetry at the modified electrode in universal buffer showed a two electron oxidation/reduction of the couple Mn^IV(μ‐O)₂Mn^IV/Mn^III(μ‐O)₂Mn^III. The sensor exhibited electrocatalytic property toward sulfite oxidation with a decrease of the overpotential of 450 mV compared with the glassy carbon electrode. A plot of the anodic current versus the sulfite concentration for potential fixed (+0.15 V vs. SCE) at the sensor was linear in the 4.99×10^?7 to 2.49×10^?6 mol L^?1 concentration range and the concentration limit was 1.33×10^?7 mol L^?1. The mediated mechanism was derived by Michaelis? Menten kinetics. The calculated kinetics values were Michaelis? Menten rate constant= =1.33 µmol L^?1, catalytic rate constant=6.06×10^?3 s^?1 and heterogeneous electro‐chemical rate constant=3.61×10^?5 cm s^?1.