Diffusion-controlled Electron Transfer Research Articles

ZnO/RuO2 nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode as sensor for determination of exercise-induced myoglobin biomarkers

A novel ZnO/RuO2 nanocomposite modified electrochemical sensor was developed for the rapid and ultrasensitive quantification of Mb biomarkers related to exercise-induced muscle injury. The sensor demonstrated a wide linear range from 0.1 to 100 nM along with an ultra-low detection limit down to 30 pM Mb under optimal conditions. A rapid response time below 10 s was achieved. The sensor surface showed excellent electrocatalytic activities towards Mb oxidation, attributing to the synergistic properties of the mixed transition metal oxide interface. Systematic investigations revealed reversible electrochemical behavior and diffusion controlled electron transfer kinetics governing the oxidation process. Negligible interferences were observed against potentially co-existing species. Spike-recovery experiments using real human serum samples yielded excellent recovery rates between 97.3% and 103.1%. Significantly enhanced post-exercise Mb levels up to 8.2 nM were successfully detected in clinical specimens, confirming the sensor's ability to sensitively monitor muscular trauma via minimally invasive blood tests. The sensor provided tangible analytical advantages over previous Mb detectors and immunoassays in terms of detection limit, sensitivity, simplicity and cost-effectiveness. Findings validate the feasible adoption of the sensor technology to facilitate prompt diagnosis of exercise-induced myoglobinemia in sports medicine clinics.

Long-Range Interfacial Charge Carrier Trapping in Halide Perovskite-C60 and Halide Perovskite-TiO2 Donor-Acceptor Films.

Interfacial electron transfer across perovskite-electron acceptor heterojunctions plays a significant role in the power-conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells. Thus, electron donor-acceptor thin films of halide perovskite nanocrystals receive considerable attention. Nevertheless, understanding and optimizing distance- and thickness-dependent electron transfer in perovskite-electron acceptor heterojunctions are important. We reveal the distance-dependent and diffusion-controlled interfacial electron transfer across donor-acceptor heterojunction films formed by formamidinium or cesium lead bromide (FAPbBr3/CsPbBr3) perovskite nanocrystals with TiO2/C60. Self-assembled nanocrystal films prepared from FAPbBr3 show a longer photoluminescence lifetime than a solution, showing a long-range carrier migration. The acceptors quench the photoluminescence intensity but not the lifetime in a solution, revealing a static electron transfer. Conversely, the electron transfer in the films changes from dynamic to static by moving toward the donor-acceptor interface. While radiative recombination dominates the electron transfer at 800 μm or farther, the acceptors scavenge the photogenerated carriers within 100 μm. This research highlights the significance of interfacial electron transfer in perovskite films.

In Situ Spectroelectrochemical Characterization Reveals Cytochrome-Mediated Electric Syntrophy in Geobacter Coculture.

Direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) between microbial species prevails in some key microbial consortia. However, the electron transfer mechanism(s) in these consortia is controversial due to lack of efficient characterization methods. Here, we provide an in situ anaerobic spectroelectrochemical coculture cell (in situ ASCC) to induce the formation of DIET coculture biofilm on the interdigitated microelectrode arrays and characterize the electron transfer directly. Two typical Geobacter DIET cocultures, Geobacter metallireducens and wild-type Geobacter sulfurreducens (G.m&G.s) and G. metallireducens and a G. sulfurreducens strain deficient in citrate synthase (G.m&G.s-ΔgltA), were selected. In situ Raman and electrochemical Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated that cytochromes are abundant in the electric syntrophic coculture. Cyclic voltammetry and potential step experiment revealed a diffusion-controlled electron transfer process and the electrochemical gating measurements further demonstrated a cytochrome-mediated electron transfer in the DIET coculture. Furthermore, the G.m&G.s-ΔgltA coculture displayed a higher redox conductivity than the G.m&G.s coculture, consistent with the existence of an intimate and efficient electrical connection between these two species. Our findings provide the first report of a redox-gradient-driven electron transport facilitated by c-type cytochromes in DIET coculture, supporting the model that DIET is mediated by cytochromes and suggest a platform to explore the other DIET consortia.

Octahedral Copper(II) Carboxylates with 1,10-Phenanthroline: Synthesis, Structural Characterization, DNA-Binding and Anti-Fungal Properties

Two mono-nuclear axially distorted octahedral copper(II) complexes have been prepared and characterized via FT-IR, UV–Visible, elctrochemical, electron spin resonance and powder and single crystal XRD techniques. The complexes consist of a phenanthroline and two carboxylate ligands each bonded in bidentate fashion. Carboxylates are ortho-nitro-2-phenyl acetate (L1) and para-chloro-2-phenyl acetate (L2). Structural study showed that both complexes possess Jahn–Teller distorted octahedral geometry. The bulk purity was assessed from the matching experimental and simulated powder XRD spectra. The results of spectroscopic techniques are consistent with each other. ESR data revealed single electron occupancy of dx2 − y2 orbital with 2B1g as ground state typical of tetragonally distorted octahedral geometry. Electrochemical solution study showed diffusion controlled electron transfer processes with diffusion co-efficient values of 10.323 × 10–8 cm2s–1 and 0.972 × 10–8 cm2s–1 for 1 and 2. Complexes exhibited excellent DNA-binding activity studied via UV–Visible spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, florescence spectroscopy and viscometry yielding Kb values of 1.871 × 104 M–1 (1) and 1.577 × 104 M–1 (2), 0.38 × 104 M–1 (1) and 6.39 × 104 M–1 (2) and 2.1 × 106 M–1 (1) and 2.0 × 06 M–1 (2), respectively, for the first three techniques. Complexes possess good antifungal activity against three fungal strains.

Determination of Riboflavin by Nanocomposite Modified Carbon Paste Electrode in Biological Fluids Using Fast Fourier Transform Square Wave Voltammetry

Herein, fast Fourier transformation square-wave voltammetry (FFT-SWV) as a novel electrochemical determination technique was used to investigate the electrochemical behavior and determination of Riboflavin at the surface of a nanocomposite modified carbon paste electrode. The carbon paste electrode was modified by nanocomposite containing Samarium oxide (Sm2O3)/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) (2:1) to improve detection sensitivity of Riboflavin under optimal experimental conditions. Furthermore, the signal-to-noise ratio was significantly increased by application of discrete fast Fourier transformation analysis, background subtraction and two-dimensional integration of the electrode response over the selected potential range and the time window. Obtained cyclic voltammograms demonstrated a diffusion-controlled reversible electron transfer reaction for Riboflavin in phosphate buffer solution (pH=7.2). The peak potential values were pH-dependent, involving the same numbers of protons and electrons. To obtain the maximum sensitivity, some effective parameters such as scan rate (10 mV/s), accumulation time (0.2 s) and potential (+400 mV), frequency (1420 Hz) and amplitude (20 mV) were optimized. As a result, determination of Riboflavin using FFT-SWV showed a linear range of response from 10 to 400 nM (R2=0.9993), with limit of detection of 0.86 nM. An acceptable recovery percent was also obtained for Riboflavin in human plasma samples as criteria of measurement applicability of the proposed modified electrode.

Light-driven activation of carbon-halogen bonds by readily available amines for photocatalytic hydrodehalogenation

A straightforward protocol using readily available aromatic amines, N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl- p-phenylenediamine or N,N′,N′-tetramethylbenzidine, as photocatalysts was developed for the efficient hydrodehalogenation of organic halides, such as 4′-bromoacetophenone, polyfluoroarenes, cholorobenzene, and 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether(a resistant and persistent organic pollutant). The strongly reducing singlet excited states of the amines enabled diffusion-controlled dissociative electron transfer to effectively cleave carbon-halogen bonds, followed by radical hydrogenation. Diisopropylethylamine served as the terminal electron/proton donor and regenerated the amine sensitizers.

Proton-coupled electron transfer as the mechanism of reaction between triplet state of kynurenic acid and tryptophan

Kynurenic acid (KNA−) is an endogenous UV-A chromophore of the human eye lens able to sensitize photodamages to eye lens proteins. In the present work, we studied in details the mechanism of reaction between KNA− triplet state (TKNA−) and tryptophan (Trp), the most effective quencher of TKNA− among aromatic and sulfur-containing amino acids, by nanosecond laser flash photolysis. Previous studies suggested electron transfer as the reaction mechanism without its direct spectroscopic confirmation. Time-resolved kinetics and spectral data of this work clearly evidence the formation of neutral tryptophanyl radicals immediately after the TKNA− quenching by Trp that indicates either hydrogen transfer or proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) as the reaction mechanism. Low kinetic isotope effect for the quenching rate constant, kH2O/kD2O = 1.3, speaks in favor of PCET mechanism of the quenching reaction, which includes the diffusion-controlled electron transfer as the primary step and the proton transfer in the radical cage as the final step.

Sterically hindered Re- and Mn-CO2 reduction catalysts for solar energy conversion.

Novel molecular Re and Mn tricarbonyl complexes bearing a bipyridyl ligand functionalised with sterically hindering substituents in the 6,6'-position, [M(HPEAB)(CO)3(X)] (M/X = Re/Cl, Mn/Br; HPEAB = 6,6'-{N-(4-hexylphenyl)-N(ethyl)-amido}-2,2'-bipyridine) have been synthesised, fully characterised including by single crystal X-ray crystallography, and their propensity to act as catalysts for the electrochemical and photochemical reduction of CO2 has been established. Controlled potential electrolysis showed that the catalysts are effective for electrochemical CO2-reduction, yielding CO as the product (in MeCN for the Re-complex, in 95 : 5 (v/v) MeCN : H2O mixture for the Mn-complex). The recyclability of the catalysts was demonstrated through replenishment of CO2 within solution. The novel catalysts had similar reduction potentials to previously reported complexes of similar structure, and results of the foot-of-the-wave analysis showed comparable maximum turnover rates, too. The tentative mechanisms for activation of the pre-catalysts were proposed on the basis of IR-spectroelectrochemical data aided by DFT calculations. It is shown that the typical dimerisation of the Mn-catalyst was prevented by incorporation of sterically hindering groups, whilst the Re-catalyst undergoes the usual mechanism following chloride ion loss. No photochemical CO2 reduction was observed for the rhenium complex in the presence of a sacrificial donor (triethylamine), which was attributed to the short triplet excited state lifetime (3.6 ns), insufficient for diffusion-controlled electron transfer. Importantly, [Mn(HPEAB)(CO)3Br] can act as a CO2 reduction catalyst when photosensitised by a zinc porphyrin under red light irradiation (λ > 600 nm) in MeCN : H2O (95 : 5); there has been only one reported example of photoactivating Mn-catalysts with porphyrins in this manner. Thus, this work demonstrates the wide utility of sterically protected Re- and Mn-diimine carbonyl catalysts, where the rate and yield of CO-production can be adjusted based on the metal centre and catalytic conditions, with the advantage of suppressing unwanted side-reactions through steric protection of the vacant coordination site.

Photoelectrochemical sewage treatment by a multifunctional g-C3N4/Ag/AgCl/BiVO4 photoanode for the simultaneous degradation of emerging pollutants and hydrogen production, and the disinfection of E. coli

This study describes the photoelectrochemical (PEC) treatment of authentic sewage from Hong Kong for H2 production and degradation of emerging pollutants (EP’s) simultaneously, and disinfection of E. coli. The g-C3N4/Ag/AgCl/BiVO4 (CAB-1) coated thin film acted as the photoanode in a three-electrode configuration PEC cell and real sewage as the electrolyte. Electrochemical studies revealed the near reversible, diffusion-controlled and high electron transfer reaction at the electrode-electrolyte surface. For CAB-1, the achieved photocurrent density was 0.1–0.2 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE exhibiting the highest PEC degradation efficiency (11.15% h−1 cm−2) compared to other base materials like g-C3N4/BiVO4 (6.88% h−1 cm−2) or Ag/AgCl/BiVO4 (4.06% h−1 cm−2). During the same reaction, the evolved 118 μmol of H2 gas corresponds to a Faradic efficiency of 69.38%. The composition of sewage was found to influence the overall PEC efficiency. The higher amount of total suspended solids, turbidity, and anionic species decreased the efficiency while as the other parameters like alkaline pH increased the PEC efficiency. Photo-electrochemically, the CAB-1 also effectively disinfected the E. coli present in the sewage with a final discharge of ≤1000 CFU/mL which is within the permissible discharge limits (≤1500 CFU/mL), in Hong Kong.

Electrochemical properties of the interaction between cytochrome c and a hematite nanowire array electrode

We investigate the interaction of horse heart cytochrome c (cyt c) with hematite nanowire array electrodes by cyclic voltammetry to study the electron transfer between redox active proteins and mineral surfaces. Using this model system, we quantify electron transfer rates between cyt c and hematite under varying electric potential and pH conditions. The results are consistent with two cyt c conformations adsorbed at the hematite surface: the native and a partially unfolded form. The partially unfolded protein maintained redox activity, but at a lower redox potential than the native protein. Adsorption of cyt c allowed direct electron transfer between cyt c and hematite, with an interfacial electron transfer rate, k°ET, of 0.4 s−1 for the native form and 0.55 s−1 for the partially unfolded protein at pH 7.07. At pH 4.66, protein adsorption decreased compared to neutral pH and the fraction of partially unfolded protein increased. Additionally, the diffusion controlled electron transfer rate between hematite and the electron shuttling compound anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) was determined to be k°ET = 8.0·10−3 cm·s−1 at pH 7.07. Modulation of electron transfer rates as a result of conformational changes by redox active proteins has broad implications for describing chemical transformations at biological-mineral interfaces.

Models of semiconductor quantum dots blinking based on spectral diffusion -=SUP=-*-=/SUP=-

AbstractThree models of single colloidal quantum dot emission fluctuations (blinking) based on spectral diffusion were considered analytically and numerically. It was shown that the only one of them, namely the Frantsuzov and Marcus model reproduces the key properties of the phenomenon. The other two models, the Diffusion-Controlled Electron Transfer (DCET) model and the Extended DCET model predict that after an initial blinking period, most of the QDs should become permanently bright or permanently dark which is significantly different from the experimentally observed behavior.

Models of Semiconductor Quantum Dots Blinking based on Spectral Diffusion

Three models of single colloidal quantum dot emission fluctuations (blinking) based on spectral diffusion were considered analytically and numerically. It was shown that the only one of them, namely the Frantsuzov and Marcus model reproduces the key properties of the phenomenon. The other two models, the Diffusion-Controlled Electron Transfer (DCET) model and the Extended DCET model predict that after an initial blinking period, most of the QDs should become permanently bright or permanently dark which is significantly different from the experimentally observed behavior.

Dinuclear Ternary Copper(II) Complex: Synthesis, Characterization, Structure and DNA-Binding Studies

A dinuclear centrosymmetric copper(II) complex has been prepared and characterized via FT-IR, UV-Visible and electron spin resonance spectroscopy, electrochemical method, and powder and single crystal XRD techniques. The two copper(II) ions are connected by two μ-1,1-O atoms belonging to para-fluorophenyl acetate ligands. Each copper(II) ion is coordinated by two other carboxylate ligands in monodentate and a 2,2'-bipyridine molecule in bidentate manner. Thus the geometry around each penta-coordinated copper(II) ion is square pyramidal with distortion factor τ = 0.04. Purity and uniform crystalline nature of the complex was assessed from powder XRD spectrum. ESR signal consisted of partially resolved hyperfine splitting pattern while electrochemical studies revealed diffusion controlled electron transfer processes with diffusion co-efficient of 1.628×10-7 cm2 s-1. The results of all spectroscopic experiments support each other. The complex afforded mixed binding mode with DNA yielding DNA-binding constant values of 3.667×104and 1.438×104 M-1 using cyclic voltammetry and absorption spectroscopy, respectively. The preliminary studies heralded good structural and biological importance of the synthesized complex.

Organic–Inorganic FAPbBr3 Perovskite Quantum Dots as a Quantum Light Source: Single-Photon Emission and Blinking Behaviors

In the past decade, lead halide perovskite nanocrystals or quantum dots (QDs) have attracted keen interest due to their potential applications in many optoelectronic systems. In addition, all-inorganic (CsPbX3) perovskite QDs are suggested to be efficient single photon emitting centers. Herein, we study the photon emission properties of recently synthesized organic–inorganic FAPbBr3 QDs. Our results show that individual FAPbBr3 QDs can act as good single-photon sources with very low multiphoton emission probability achieved by extremely fast nonradiative Auger recombination. However, they exhibit photodegradation and fluorescence intensity intermittency, called blinking. By analyzing the ON(OFF) duration time distribution, particularly the OFF duration times, we suggest that two types of blinking (type-A and type-B) simultaneously contribute to the blinking behavior of FAPbBr3 QDs. In type-A and type-B blinking, the ON/OFF periods are attributed to charged/discharged states and to activation/deactivation of fast nonradiative recombination centers, respectively. By analyzing the ON/OFF duration cutoff time as a function of the excitation intensity, we verify that type-A blinking is caused mainly by diffusion-controlled electron transfer, partially accompanied by Auger ionization processes.

Non-peripherally tetra substituted lead(II), nickel(II) and copper(II) phthalocyanines bearing [1,2,3] triazole moeties: Synthesis, characterization and investigation of electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties

In this study, the synthesis and characterization of novel [1,2,3] triazole substituted phthalonitrile compound (3) and non-peripherally tetra 3-(2H-benzo[d][1,2,3]triazol-2-yl)-4-hydroxyphenethyl methacrylate substituted lead(II) (4), nickel(II) (5) and copper(II) (6) phthalocyanine derivatives were achieved. The new compounds were characterized by using FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, UV–Vis and mass spectra. The electrochemical properties of novel non-peripherally tetra [1,2,3] triazole substituted metallo phthalocyanines (4–6) was determined by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square-wave voltammetry (SWV) for the first time in this study. The results show that all the complexes (4–6) have ligand-based diffusion controlled electron transfer properties. The color changes related to the redox processes were also recorded with in-situ electrocolorimetric measurements. When the spectral changes are compared with each other, it is clear that all complexes show Pc based electron transfer reactions. There are slight differences between the spectra of the complexes due to the different nature of the metal centers of the complexes. The electrochemical and in-situ UV–Vis spectral change of complexes (4–6) indicated that they have applicability in electrochemical technologies.

Synthesis and investigation of spectroelectrochemical properties of peripherally tetra-substituted phthalocyanine bearing 3-(4-{[3-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]oxy}phenyl)propan-1-ol and its metallo compounds

In this study, the new compounds; 3-(4-{[3-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]oxy}phenyl)propan-1-ol 3 was prepared by the reaction of 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)phenol 1 with 1-(bromomethyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzene 2 and 4-[3-(4-{[3 (trifluoromethyl)benzyl]oxy}phenyl)propoxy] phthalonitrile 5 was synthesized by the reaction of 4-nitrophthalonitrile 4 with 3-(4-{[3-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]oxy}phenyl)propan-1-ol 3. Novel peripherally tetra substituted H2Pc 6, Co(II) 7, Cu(II) 8, Ni(II) 9 and Fe(II) 10 phthalocyanines, which have peripheral positions with 4-[3-(4-{[3 (trifluoromethyl)benzyl]oxy}phenyl)propoxy] groups, were synthesized and all of the new compounds characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, UV–Vis, mass spectroscopies and elemental analysis. The electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical investigation of the phthalocyanines carrying 4-[3-(4-{[3 (trifluoromethyl)benzyl]oxy}phenyl)propoxy] groups were studied using various electrochemical techniques in DMF on a glassy carbon electrode. Cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry studies show that the complexes have either metal based or ligand-based diffusion controlled electron transfer properties. To shed more light on the electron-transfer steps of the complexes and assignments of the redox couples were carried out by spectroelectrochemical measurements. The color changes during spectral changes of redox species were recorded with in situ electrocolorimetric measurements. The electrochemical and in situ UV–Vis spectral change of complexes indicated their applicability in the fields of the electrochemical technologies.

Hierarchically Assembled Two‐dimensional Hybrid Nanointerfaces: A Platform for Bioelectronic Applications

AbstractWe introduce a hybrid two‐dimensional nanointerface structure for bioelectronic systems. We fabricated smart hierarchically self‐assembled 2D electrobiocatalytic interface system based on the combination of gold nanoparticles doped graphene oxide (GO)‐molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) layered nanohybrid, conjugated with poly (N‐isopropylacrylamide, PNIPAAm) resulting in GO/AuNPs/MoS2/PNIPAAm interface. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was subsequently immobilized on the GO/AuNPs/MoS2/PNIPAAm interface through electrostatic interactions giving GO/AuNPs/MoS2/PNIPAAm/Peroxidase electrobiocatalytic interface system as a platform for electrobiocatalysis reactions for biosensing and bioelectronic applications. The electrobiocatalytic activity of the nanohybrid interface structure was studied using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a model analyte. Cyclic Voltammetry showed diffusion controlled electron transfer properties at the interface. The fabricated bioelectrode exhibits a wide linear response to the detection of H2O2 from 1.57 to 11.33 mM, with a detection limit of 3.34 mM (S/N=3) and a capacitance of 8.6 F/cm2.

Diffusion of Solvent-Separated Ion Pairs Controls Back Electron Transfer Rate in Graphene Quantum Dots

In the present study, the stability of the photogenerated, solvent-separated charged states of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) in the presence of N,N-diethylaniline (DEA) has been evaluated in a series of organic solvents. The results indicate that the rate constant for back electron transfer (kBET) from GQD radical anion to DEA radical cation is diffusion-controlled. As a result of the diffusion-controlled back electron transfer (BET), kBET exhibits an inverse exponential relation to (a) the viscosity coefficient (η) of the solvent and (b) the average radius of the graphene quantum dots. An analytical expression for the diffusion-controlled back electron transfer rate constant has been formulated. The dependence of kBET on the diffusion of solvent-separated ion pairs has been evaluated for the first time for quantum dot systems and the results provide an efficient method for enhancing the lifetime of the photogenerated charge-separated states from graphene quantum dots. The present findings can potentially improve the performance of GQD-based photovoltaic and optoelectronic devices.

Octahedral copper(II) carboxylate complex: synthesis, structural description, DNA-binding and anti-bacterial studies

Self-assembly of CuSO4, para-methyl-2-phenyl acetate and 1,10-phenanthroline afforded good-quality crystalline complex in quantitative yield. The complex was characterized by FTIR and UV-visible spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and powder and single-crystal XRD studies. Its structure was found to possess axially elongated octahedral symmetry with CuO4N2 chromophore. Its purity was assessed by powder XRD spectrum. Absorption study yielded a broad band corresponding to 2Eg→2T2 g transition. Electrochemical solution study indicated diffusion-controlled irreversible electron transfer process corresponding to Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox couple with diffusion coefficient = 7.89(±0.1)×10−9 cm2s−1. Results of spectroscopic techniques support each other. Complex exhibited excellent DNA-binding ability through UV-visible spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry yielding Kb values 1.399 × 104 M−1 and 5.81 × 103 M−1, respectively. The complex exhibited significant activity against bacterial strains Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus and Staphylococcus aureus and good activity against Bacillus subtilis. These preliminary studies impart good biological relevance on the synthesized complex.

Polymeric Copper(II) Paddlewheel Carboxylate: Structural Description, Electrochemistry, and DNA‐binding Studies

A polymeric complex of copper(II) was isolated and purified from the self‐assembly of CuSO4 and 2‐phenyl acetate in aqueous medium. It was characterized through FT‐IR, UV/Vis, electron spin resonance, electrochemical solution studies, and powder and single crystal XRD techniques. The structure was revealed to consist of directly interconnected dimeric paddlewheel building units without any intervening ligand. This type of polymeric paddlewheel structures are found very rarely. Each copper is lying in a CuO5 square pyramid coordinated by four oxygen atoms in the square base while the axial oxygen belongs to the neighboring paddlewheel. Purity and uniform crystalline nature of the complex was assessed from matching theoretical and experimental powder XRD spectra. ESR spectrum consisted of a broad signal with g value = 2.2427, whereas electrochemical studies revealed diffusion controlled electron transfer processes with diffusion co‐efficient = 1.628 × 10–7 cm2·s–1. The results of spectroscopic techniques support each other. The complex afforded mixed binding mode with DNA yielding DNA‐binding constant values of 1.384 × 104 m–1 and 8.845 × 104 m–1 using absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry, respectively. The complex also exhibited significant activity against anti‐fungal strain Helminthosporium solani by inhibiting its 75 % ± 2.5 growth. The preliminary studies heralded excellent biological potential of the synthesized complex.