Electron Transport in Magnetic Nanomaterials for Sensing and Catalytic Applications

Understanding the electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties of magnetic nanomaterials as immobilized films on surfaces holds significance in designing miniaturized sensors and volume efficient catalytic reactors. Additionally, incorporating metalloenzymes, known for high catalytic turnover, allows the design of novel electrochemical biosensors and green bioreactors. Applications of magnetite nanoparticles in the areas of highly sensitive biosensors, in vitro and in vivo studies, separation and preconcentration of analytes, and catalysis are emerging. One of our objectives is to understand the direct electron transfer and self-exchange phenomena in magnetite nanoparticle assemblies on electrodes, which can act as a reference system to study other redox active nanoscopic materials and long-range biological electron transfer processes. Our findings on this objective will be presented.

Acknowledgements: We are grateful for the financial support by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R15DK103386.