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Seed‐Mediated Synthesis of Au Nanocages and Their Electrocatalytic Activity towards Glucose Oxidation
Author(s) -
Zhang Yue,
Xu Fugang,
Sun Yujing,
Guo Cunlan,
Cui Kang,
Shi Yan,
Wen Zhiwei,
Li Zhuang
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.200903552
Subject(s) - nanocages , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , transmission electron microscopy , chemical engineering , materials science , nanoparticle , nanomaterials , scanning electron microscope , hexamethylenetetramine , electrocatalyst , aqueous solution , catalysis , spectroscopy , nuclear chemistry , nanotechnology , chemistry , electrochemistry , organic chemistry , electrode , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering , composite material
We report a modified seed‐mediated approach for the synthesis of uniform Au nanocages (AuNCs). HAuCl 4 was reduced in an aqueous mixture of hexamethylenetetramine (HMT), poly( N ‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone) (PVP), and AgNO 3 . The nanocages were (54.6±13.3) nm in outer‐edge length and about 12 nm in wall thickness. The structure of the AuNCs was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Morphological changes associated with the seed‐mediated growth of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the absence of HMT or PVP were examined. The results demonstrate that both PVP and HMT play important roles in the formation of the nanocage structure. The function of AgNO 3 was also studied. A possible formation mechanism for the AuNCs was investigated by monitoring TEM images of the Au nanostructures formed at various reaction times. The electrocatalytic activity of the AuNCs towards the oxidation of glucose was explored, and a nonenzymatic glucose sensor with high sensitivity and good stability was further fabricated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the preparation of AuNCs by a seed‐mediated strategy and of the application of AuNCs in the electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose. Our results should facilitate the creation of novel nanomaterials with various morphologies and the exploration of their applications in nanotechnological, optical, catalytic, and materials science fields.