Noncovalent nanoassembly of porphyrin on single-walled carbon nanotubes for electrocatalytic reduction of nitric oxide and oxygen

Water-soluble iron(III) meso-tetrakis(N-methylpyridinum-4-yl)porphyrin (FeTMPyP) was successfully immobilized on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) via 1-pyrenebutyric acid (PBA). The formed SWNTs/PBA/FeTMPyP film showed an enhanced electrocatalytic peak at −0.70 V and −0.17 V towards reduction of nitric oxide and oxygen, respectively. SWNTs accelerated the electron transfer between FeTMPyP and electrode, and increased the amount of FeTMPyP adsorbed. FeTMPyP acted as a catalyst to decrease the reduction potential, exhibiting a synergy in electrocatalysis. The excellent electrocatalytic behaviors made SWNTs/porphyrin nanocomposite have a promising potential in fabricating new type of biosensors.