Characterization of gold nanoparticles electrochemically deposited on amine-functioned mesoporous silica films and electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose

This study reports the preparation and characterization of gold nanoparticles deposited on amine-functioned hexagonal mesoporous silica (NH₂–HSM) films and the electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose. Gold nanoparticles are fabricated by electrochemically reducing chloroauric acid on the surface of NH₂–HSM film, using potential step technology. The gold nanoparticles deposited have an average diameter of 80 nm and show high electroactivity. Prussian blue film can form easily on them while cycling the potential between −0.2 and 0.6 V (vs saturated calomel electrode) in single ferricyanide solution. The gold nanoparticles loading NH₂–HSM-film-coated glassy carbon electrode (Au–NH₂–HSM/GCE) shows strong catalysis to the oxidation of glucose, and according to the cathodic oxidation peak at about 0.16 V, the catalytic current is about 2.5 μA mM⁻¹. Under optimized conditions, the peak current of the cathodic oxidation peak is linear to the concentration of glucose in the range of 0.2 to 70 mM. The detection limit is estimated to be 0.1 mM. In addition, some electrochemical parameters about glucose oxidation are estimated.