Highly Efficient Fenton and Enzyme-Mimetic Activities of Mixed-Phase VO_x Nanoflakes

Artificial enzyme mimetics is a current research area with much interest from scientific community. Some nanomaterials have been found to possess intrinsic enzyme-mimetic activity. In this study, VO_x nanoflakes with mixed-phases are synthesized via a quick and facile one-pot synthetic process and their Fenton reaction and enzyme-mimetic activities have been studied. The results show that obtained VOx is not only highly effective Fenton reagent, completely decomposing Rhodamine B (RhB) within less than 1 min, but also exhibits excellent intrinsic peroxidase-like activity as well as H₂O₂ catalase-like activity. Our results suggest that this VO_x nanomaterial can effectively mimic the enzyme cascade reaction of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). VO_x nanoflakes have excellent affinity toward 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) for oxidation and henceforth, it can be used for the colorimetric assay of glucose and H₂O₂. Moreover, this study indicates that VO_x nanoflakes can also be used for the efficient degradation of environmental pollutants.