Fe doped MoS₂/polypyrrole microtubes towards efficient peroxidase mimicking and colorimetric sensing application

Area of Science:

• Materials Science and Nanotechnology
• Catalysis
• Chemical Sensing

Background:

• Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanosheets possess intrinsic peroxidase-like activity valuable for colorimetric sensing.
• Poor conductivity and limited edge sites in MoS₂ hinder its catalytic efficiency and practical applications.
• Aggregation of MoS₂ nanosheets further exacerbates low catalytic performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an enhanced catalytic material by overcoming the limitations of pristine MoS₂ nanosheets.
• To create a novel composite for improved enzyme-like catalysis and sensitive analyte detection.
• To explore the potential of the developed material in electrochemical energy conversion and medical diagnostics.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized Fe-doped MoS₂ nanosheets selectively deposited on polypyrrole (PPy) microtubes, forming Fe-MoS₂@PPy microtubes.
• Utilized a sulfidation process involving dissolution, redistribution, and diffusion to form Fe-doped MoS₂ nanosheets on PPy microtubes.
• Developed a colorimetric strategy for L-cysteine detection based on the peroxidase-like activity of Fe-MoS₂@PPy microtubes.

Main Results:

• The Fe-MoS₂@PPy microtubes exhibited significantly enhanced peroxidase-like activity compared to bare MoS₂.
• PPy microtubes provided a conductive support, reduced MoS₂ aggregation, and improved electron transfer.
• Fe doping introduced additional active sites, boosting catalytic efficiency and enabling sensitive L-cysteine detection.

Conclusions:

• Fe-MoS₂@PPy microtubes represent a promising nanocomposite with high catalytic activity and stability for enzyme-like catalysis.
• The developed colorimetric strategy offers a simple, rapid, and sensitive method for L-cysteine detection.
• The Fe-MoS₂@PPy platform can be further functionalized (e.g., with Au/Ag NPs) for advanced applications in energy and diagnostics.