Preparation and characterization of an AuCu3 alloy electrode for electrocatalytic applications

Growth pathways of Cu shells on Au and AuCu seeds: interdiffusion, shape transformations, strained shells and patchy surfaces

The growth of AuCu nanoparticles obtained by depositing Cu atoms on starting seeds of pure Au and on mixed AuCu seeds is studied by molecular dynamics simulations. Depending on the shape of the seed, its composition and the growth temperature, different growth pathways are observed, in which several types of structural transformations take place. The final growth structures comprise Au@Cu core@shell arrangements as well as Janus-like structures with patchy surfaces. The results of the growth simulations are rationalized in terms of the activation of different diffusion processes, both on the surface and inside the growing clusters. These diffusion processes regulate structural transitions between different motifs and the occurrence of dewetting phenomena. The simulation results show that depositon of Cu atoms on pure Au or mixed AuCu seed can be an effective tool for producing clusters with uncommon surface atom arrangements of potential interest for catalysis.

Highly branched gold-copper nanostructures for non-enzymatic specific detection of glucose and hydrogen peroxide

The development of highly sensitive and highly selective sensors for non-enzymatic glucose and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) detection using gold-copper alloy nanoparticles (AuCu alloy NPs) is reported. The AuCu NPs are nanostructures with branches and can be used as an electrochemical catalyst. Series of AuCu alloy NPs with various metal ratios are synthesized through a coreduction reaction. The morphology of AuCu alloy NPs is altered from highly branched structures (nanourchin, nanobramble, nanostar, nanocrystal) to a spherical shape by increasing Au content in the synthesis reaction. Cu-rich AuCu nanobramble and Au-rich AuCu nanostar exhibit selective electrocatalysis behaviors toward electro-oxidation of glucose and electroreduction of H₂O₂, respectively. The AuCu nanobramble-based sensor holds great potential in glucose detection with a linear working range of 0.25 to 10 mM. The sensor possesses a sensitivity of 339.35 μA mM^-1 cm^-2, a limit of detection (LOD) of 16.62 μM, which is an acceptable selectivity and good stability. In addition, the AuCu nanostar-based sensor shows excellent electrochemical responses toward H₂O₂ reduction with good selectivity, reproducibility, and a short response time of about 2-3 s. The linear range for H₂O₂ determination is 0.05 to 10 mM, with LOD and sensitivity of 10.93 μM and 133.74 μA mM^-1 cm^-2, respectively. The good sensing performance is a result of the synergistic surface structure and atomic composition effects, which leads AuCu alloys to be a promising nanocatalyst for sensing both glucose and H₂O₂. Graphical abstract Schematic illustration presents the construction of gold-copper alloy nanoparticles (AuCu alloy NPs) on the surface of screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). The highly branched nanostructures of AuCu alloys with different surface structure and metal ratios give selective electrocatalysis behaviors. Cu-rich AuCu nanobramble-based sensor reveals prominent electrocatalytic activity for glucose detection. Au-rich AuCu nanostar-based sensor provides good electrochemical response for H₂O₂ detection.

Hollow AuxAg/Au core/shell nanospheres as efficient catalysts for electrooxidation of liquid fuels

One plausible approach to endow nanocrystals with both enhanced catalytic activity and stability for the electrooxidation of liquid fuels is to chemically control the crystal structures of nanoparticles. To date, core-shell and alloy structures have been demonstrated to offer generally two precious opportunities to design highly efficient nanocatalysts for the electrooxidation reaction of organic molecules. We herein combine these two advantages and develop a general method to successfully synthesize hollow Au_xAg/Au core/shell nanospheres with a high yield approaching 100% via a combined seed mediated and galvanic replacement method. The results from the electrochemical measurements have revealed that this as-obtained hollow Au_xAg/Au core/shell nanosphere exhibited considerably high electrocatalytic performance towards ethylene glycol and glycerol oxidation with mass activity of 4585 and 3486 mA mg_Au^-1, which were 5.3- and 5.8-fold higher than that of pure Au. We trust this strategy may be extended to the syntheses of other multimetallic nanocatalysts with such fascinating nanostructures and the as-obtained hollow Au_xAg/Au core/shell nanospheres can be well applied to serve as highly desirable anode catalysts for the electrooxidation of ethylene glycol and glycerol.

A facile synthesis of high quality nanostructured CeO2 and Gd2O3-doped CeO2 solid electrolytes for improved electrochemical performance

A novel atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) was applied to synthesize high quality CeO₂ and Gd₂O₃-doped CeO₂ (GDC) nanoparticles (NPs) using a composite nitrate salt solution as a precursor. The result shows that Gd helps in improving Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O₂ conductivity, making them candidate materials for electrolytes in solid oxide fuel cells.