FeS2 /carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocomposites were synthesized and immobilized on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) in order to investigate the electrocatalytic conversion of 4-aminophenol (4-AP) into p-quinone in an aqueous medium. The reformed electronic properties (in terms of lowering of band-gap energy and charge-transfer resistance), as well as improved surface area, result in an enhanced redox reaction of 4-AP in the presence of FeS2 -CNT NCs compared to that with FeS2 alone. The 4-AP molecules undergo coupled two-proton and two-electron transfer quasi-reversible redox reactions with a symmetry factor of 0.55 and standard rate constant (k°) of 0.8 cm s-1 . Here, quinone imine is generated as an intermediate which is later converted into quinone in an irreversible hydrolysis reaction. The best catalytic performance can be obtained at the pH value of 7.0.
Keywords: 4-aminophenol; carbon nanotubes; electrocatalytic reactions; electrochemistry; iron sulfide.
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