Electrochemical investigation of a novel metalloporphyrin intercalated layered niobate modified electrode and its electrocatalysis on ascorbic acid

Cationic iron (III) tetrakis-5, 10, 15, 20-(N-methyl-4-pyridyl) porphyrin (FeIIITMPyP) was intercalated into layered semiconductor KNb3O8 by ion-exchange method. The target product was characterized by XRD, Fourier transform infrared, UV–vis, and TGA. FeIIITMPyP forms an inclined monolayer between Nb3O8− nanosheets and endues the nanocomposite with excellent electrochemical catalytic activities. The target nanocomposite modified glass carbon electrode shows good electrocatalytic activities for the oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA); the catalytic mechanism was proposed. Differential pulse voltammetric technique was used for detection of AA in neutral aqueous solution; a detection limit of 4.2 × 10−5 M was obtained, and the modified electrode showed good reproducibility in electrochemical detection.