An ultrasensitive iron(III)-complex based hydrogen peroxide electrochemical sensor based on a nonelectrocatalytic mechanism

In this communication, the first nonelectrocatalysis-type hydrogen peroxide electrochemical sensor is reported. The electroactive iron(III) diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA-Fe^III) complex is immobilized on the cysteamine (cys) modified nanoporous gold (NPG) films by covalent method. The immobilized DTPA-Fe^III complex quickly communicates an electron with the electrode. Upon addition of hydrogen peroxide, however, hydrogen peroxide inhibits the direct electron transfer of the DTPA-Fe^III complex due to the generation of nonelectroactive DTPA-Fe^III–H₂O₂ complex. Based on quenching mechanism, the first hydrogen peroxide electrochemical sensor based on a nonelectrocatalytic mechanism is developed. The novel hydrogen peroxide electrochemical sensor has the ultralow detection limit (1.0 × 10^–14 M) and wide linear range (1.0 × 10^–13 to 1.0 × 10^–8 M) with excellent reproducibility and stability.