Biomimetic graphene-FePt nanohybrids with high solubility, ferromagnetism, fluorescence, and enhanced electrocatalytic activity

Biomimetic synthesis is one of the facile strategies for creating novel nanostructured materials. Here we reported ferritin (Fr)-mediated biomimetic synthesis of FePt nanoparticles (NPs) on graphene nanosheets (GNs). GNs were noncovalently modified with 1-pyrenebutyric acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester to provide binding sites for Fr molecules. The successful modification was demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and the formation of GN-Fr nanohybrids were identified with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). FePt NPs were synthesized by chemical reduction of metallic Fe2+ and PtCl62- that entered the core of Frs. The created GN-FePt nanohybrids exhibit multifunctions like high water-solubility, ferromagnetism, fluorescence, and enhanced electrocatalytic activity. The synthesized GN-FePt nanohybrids have potential applications in drug delivery, cell imaging, and biosensors