Electropolymerization of iron tetra(o-aminophenyl)porphyrin from aqueous solution and the electrocatalytic behavior of modified electrode

Stable electroactive iron tetra(o-aminophenyl)porphyrin (FeTAPP) films are prepared by electropolymerization from aqueous solution by cycling the electrode potential between -0.4 and 1.0 V vs Ag/AgCl at 0.1 V s(-1). The cyclic voltammetric response indicates that polymerization takes place after the oxidation of amino groups, and the films could be produced on glassy carbon (GC) and gold electrodes. The film growth of poly(FeTAPP) was monitored by using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance. The cyclic voltammetric features of Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple in the film resembles that of surface confined redox species. The electrochemical response of the modified electrode was found to be dependent on the pH of the contacting solution with a negative shift of 57 mV/pH. The electrocatalytic behavior of poly(FeTAPP) film-modified electrode was investigated towards reduction of hydrogen peroxide, molecular oxygen, and chloroacetic acids (mono-, di-, and tri-). The reduction of hydrogen peroxide, molecular oxygen, and dichloroacetic acid occurred at less negative potential on poly(FeTAPP) film compared to bare GC electrode. Particularly, the overpotential of hydrogen peroxide was reduced substantially. The O-2 reduction proceeds through direct four-electron reduction mechanism.