Hierarchical porous MoS2 particles: excellent multi-enzyme-like activities, mechanism and its sensitive phenol sensing based on inhibition of sulfite oxidase mimics

It is important to exploit highly efficient methods for detecting pollutants selectively and sensitively. Artificial enzymes are promising to replace natural enzymes with diverse functions for sustainable developments and various applications. However, it remains the challenge to develop novel mimic enzymes or multi-enzyme mimics for pollutant detection. Herein we report hierarchical porous MoS2 particles prepared by a simple hydrothermal method, which demonstrated excellent sulfite oxidase (SuOx)-, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) oxidase- and superoxide dismutase-mimicking activities. In addition, the catalytic conditions for SuOx-like and NADH oxidase-like activities of MoS2 were optimized. The catalytic mechanism of the NADH oxidase mimics is that O2 involves in the oxidation of NADH, to generate O2.- intermediate and finally turn to H2O2, while SuOx mimics comes from that MoS2 particles can effectively catalyze sulfite to reduce [Fe(CN)6]3-. Based on the excellent SuOx-like activity of MoS2 particles, while phenol can inhibit the oxidation of sulfite, a phenol colorimetric sensor was explored with the dynamic range of 2–1000 μM and the limit of detection of 0.72 μM, applicable to detect phenol in effluents. Therefore, MoS2 particles with the SuOx-like, NADH oxidase-like and SOD-like activities has broad application prospects in environmental monitoring and bio-analysis. [Display omitted] •A facile and green method for preparing hierarchical porous MoS2 particles developed.•The porous MoS2 particles exhibited excellent SuOx-, NADH oxidase- and SOD- mimics.•The catalytic mechanism of enzyme mimics was systematically investigated.•Based on inhibition of SuOx-like activity, novel colorimetric phenol sensor explored.