The Renaissance of Ferrocene-Based Electrocatalysts: Properties, Synthesis Strategies, and Applications

The fascinating electrochemical properties of the redox-active compound ferrocene have inspired researchers across the globe to develop ferrocene-based electrocatalysts for a wide variety of applications. Advantages including excellent chemical and thermal stability, solubility in organic solvents, a pair of stable redox states, rapid electron transfer, and nontoxic nature improve its utility in various electrochemical applications. The use of ferrocene-based electrocatalysts enables control over the intrinsic properties and electroactive sites at the surface of the electrode to achieve specific electrochemical activities. Ferrocene and its derivatives can function as a potential redox medium that promotes electron transfer rates, thereby enhancing the reaction kinetics and electrochemical responses of the device. The outstanding electrocatalytic activity of ferrocene-based compounds at lower operating potentials enhances the specificity and sensitivity of reactions and also amplifies the response signals. Owing to their versatile redox chemistry and catalytic activities, ferrocene-based electrocatalysts are widely employed in various energy-related systems, molecular machines, and agricultural, biological, medicinal, and sensing applications. This review highlights the importance of ferrocene-based electrocatalysts, with emphasis on their properties, synthesis strategies for obtaining different ferrocene-based compounds, and their electrochemical applications.

Metallodendrimers Unveiled: Investigating the Formation and Features of Double-Decker Silsesquioxane-Based Silylferrocene Dendrimers

Dendrimers exhibiting reversible redox properties have attracted extensive attention for their potential as electron transfer mediators, catalysts, and molecular sensors. In this study, we introduce intriguing G1 and G2 dendrimers featuring double-decker silsesquioxane cores and silylferrocene moieties. Through a carefully orchestrated sequence of condensation, reduction, and hydrosilylation reactions, these compounds were synthesized and comprehensively characterized spectroscopically and spectrometrically. Our investigation also encompassed the examination of their properties, including thermal stability, solubility in common organic solvents, and electrochemical behavior. We determined that these dendrimers possess the capability to form monolayers on platinum electrodes, which we conclusively demonstrated through the probing of cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy imaging. Notably, this study marks the first-ever example of modifying double-decker silsesquioxane cores with ferrocene groups while simultaneously representing one of the scarce instances of dendrimers exhibiting an open double-decker silsesquioxane core.

N-Arylated bisferrocene pyrazole for the dual-mode detection of hydrogen peroxide: an AIE-active fluorescent “turn ON/OFF” and electrochemical non-enzymatic sensor

N-Arylated bisferrocene pyrazoles for the dual-mode detection of H₂O₂ by AIE-active fluorescence and non-enzymatic electrochemical methods.