Electrocatalytic activity of a novel titanium-supported nanoporous gold catalyst for glucose oxidation

A novel Ti-supported gold catalyst (nanoAu/Ti) with a nanoporous 3D texture has been fabricated using a hydrothermal method. Au particles were stably deposited on the Ti surface from the mixture of aqueous tetrachlororoauric acid and polyethylene glycol at 180 °C. Voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry were used to characterize the nanoAu/Ti electrode and assess its electroactivity towards glucose oxidation. Compared to polycrystalline Au, the nanoAu/Ti electrode shows similar CV profiles in alkaline solution. However, in an alkaline solution containing 10 mM glucose, the nanoAu/Ti electrode presents much higher anodic current densities and a more negative onset potential (ca. ?0.75 V) for glucose oxidation than a bulk Au electrode. Analysis for Tafel plot of the nanoAu/Ti electrode shows that electro-oxidation of glucose takes place via a one-electron rate-determining step. Results indicate a high and (relatively) stable electrocatalytic activity of the nanoAu/Ti for glucose oxidation.