Formation of Au nanoflowers on cysteamine monolayer and their electrocatalytic oxidation of nitrite

Abstract

This study has described a simple and reliable method for the synthesis of Au nanoflowers (AuNFs) on cysteamine (Cys) monolayer modified Au electrodes based on the inhomogeneous diffusion process of AuCl₄⁻ ions, and also carefully discussed the electrocatalytic property of this modified electrode for the oxidation of nitrite, which can be used to detect nitrite in real samples. The obtained AuNFs have been characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and cyclic voltammetry. The reaction mechanism of the oxidation of nitrite has been investigated carefully. Furthermore, the AuNFs have exhibited good catalytic activity towards the oxidation of nitrite with a linear concentration range of 2.0 × 10⁻⁶–1.05 × 10⁻³ M, and a detection limit of 7.5 × 10⁻⁷ M.