Strongly coupled CeO₂/Co₃O₄/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nanofibers with enhanced nanozyme activity for highly...

In this work, we have prepared CeO₂/Co₃O₄ composite nanofibers via an electrospinning technique followed by a calcination process. Then core-shell structured CeO₂/Co₃O₄/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) composite nanofibers were fabricated through a redox reaction between the 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomer and Co₃O₄ on the surface of CeO₂/Co₃O₄ composite nanofibers. The morphology and composition of the two composite nanofibers were confirmed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectra measurements. Due to the synergistic effect between CeO₂ and Co₃O₄, the catalytic activity was enhanced compared to that of independent oxide nanofibers. After the growth of PEDOT, the catalytic activity process was further improved, having achieved a secondary synergistic effect. Application of the two prepared composite nanofibers as peroxidase-like catalysts for the colorimetric detection of H₂O₂ was investigated. It is anticipated that this work can inspire researchers to develop various novel functional nanocomposites for applications in biosensing and environmental monitoring.