Ferrocene-Modified Metal–Organic Frameworks as a Peroxidase-Mimicking Catalyst

Abstract

Recently, the development of enzyme-like catalysts attracts increasing attention owing to their remarkable advantages over natural enzymes. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are ideal candidates for building biomimetic systems, because their diverse composition and structure can generate various biomimetic active centers. In this study, the postsynthetic modification was performed to create a peroxidase (POD)-mimicking catalyst through grafting ferrocene group to a Zr-based MOF material (UiO-66-NH2). The obtained UiO-66-Fc shows significant POD-like catalytic ability in the oxidation of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine with the adding of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In addition, benefiting from the MOF moiety, UiO-66-Fc displayed enhanced catalytic activity, improved optimum condition and favorable reusability. Finally, based on the catalytic function of UiO-66-Fc, simple colorimetric methods for the quantitative detection of H2O2, glucose and uric acid were established respectively, which displayed wider linear range and lower limit of detection.