Issue 7, 2014

The strong catalytic effect of Pb(ii) on the oxygen reduction reaction on 5 nm gold nanoparticles

Abstract

Citrate-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) of 5 nm in diameter are synthesized via wet chemistry and deposited on a glassy carbon electrode through electrophoresis. The kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on the modified electrode is determined quantitatively in oxygen-saturated 0.5 M sulphuric acid solution by modelling the cathode as an array of interactive nanoelectrodes. Quantitative analysis of the cyclic voltammetry shows that no apparent ORR electrocatalysis takes place, the kinetics on AuNPs being effectively the same as on bulk gold. Contrasting with the above, a strong ORR catalysis is found when Pb2+ is added to the oxygen saturated solution or when the modified electrode is cycled in lead alkaline solution such that lead dioxide is repeatedly electrodeposited and stripped off on the nanoparticles. In both cases, the underpotential deposition of lead on the gold nanoparticles is found to be related to the catalysis.

Graphical abstract: The strong catalytic effect of Pb(ii) on the oxygen reduction reaction on 5 nm gold nanoparticles

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 Nov 2013
Accepted
20 Dec 2013
First published
20 Dec 2013

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014,16, 3200-3208

The strong catalytic effect of Pb(II) on the oxygen reduction reaction on 5 nm gold nanoparticles

Y. Wang, E. Laborda, B. J. Plowman, K. Tschulik, K. R. Ward, R. G. Palgrave, C. Damm and R. G. Compton, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, 16, 3200 DOI: 10.1039/C3CP55306J

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