Fe(III)-Tannic Acid Complex Derived Fe₃C Decorated Carbon Nanofibers for Triple-Enzyme Mimetic Activity and Their Biosensing Application

In the past decade, nanomaterials-based artificial enzymes have emerged as a hot spot in the field of catalysis. However, it is a significant challenge to fabricate functional nanomaterials for multiple-enzyme mimetic activity. In this work, we have presented an efficient catalytic platform to mimic peroxidase, oxidase, and catalase-like activity by Fe3C decorated carbon nanofibers (Fe3C/C NFs). First, polyacrylonitrile nanofibers (PAN NFs) are prepared via an electrospinning technique. Next, an Fe(III)-tannic acid (TA) complex is formed on the surface of PAN NFs through a wet chemical reaction. Finally, Fe3C/C NFs are obtained from the carbonization of the PAN/Fe(III)-TA complex nanofibers. The prepared Fe3C/C NFs show an excellent triple-enzyme mimetic property including peroxidase-like, oxidase-like, and catalase-like activity, which is investigated thoroughly by the colorimetric experiment of the 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl benzidine oxidation and the degradation of H2O2. Thanks to the superior catalytic performance of Fe3C/C NFs for oxidase mimicking, a facile and colorimetric way to determine glutathione with a high sensitivity and favorable selectivity has been achieved. This work provides an efficient platform for multiple-enzyme mimicking, which may expand their promising applications in biosensing, biomedicine, and environmental technology.