ELECTROCATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF ULTRAFINE GOLD PARTICLES TOWARDS OXIDATION OF ACETALDEHYDE AND ETHANOL

The structural and electrocatalytic properties of ultrafine gold parti cles deposited onto a flat glassy carbon support (Au/GC) were investig ated by means of high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) an d cyclic voltammetry (CV). Gold particles of the Au/GC electrodes prep ared had a hemispherical shape and were 1-12 nm in diameter. The mean particle size d decreased with decreasing amount of gold deposited M. In alkaline solutions, these electrodes oxidized acetaldehyde and etha nol anodically at the surface, when covered incompletely with the gold oxide layer. Their electrocatalytic activities per real surface area S(Au) increased with increasing M, or d so as to exceed those of a gol d wire electrode.