Because nanoporous gold (NPG) structures can provide useful applications based on unique physical and chemical properties, the development of preparation methods of NPG have been a subject of extensive research. Recently, an anodization of Au surface...
Because nanoporous gold (NPG) structures can provide useful applications based on unique physical and chemical properties, the development of preparation methods of NPG have been a subject of extensive research. Recently, an anodization of Au surfaces was suggested as an efficient method to prepare porous gold structures. In this work, the mechanistic aspect of anodization of Au in Cl-containing solutions to prepare NPG layers was investigated. Effect of experimental parameters during the anodization reaction on the porosity of NPG layers in terms of roughness factor (Rf) were examined. Compared to the unbuffered electrolytes, the anodic formation of NPG was effectively performed in buffered solutions. The Rf of NPG layers was sensitively dependent on the pH, temperature of electrolytes and concentration of KCl, which was ascribed to the efficiency of the formation of Au oxide as protecting layers of newly-formed NPG structures. In buffer solutions at pH 8, ultrahigh porous NPG layers with Rf of 1300 was obtained within 15 min. The ultrahigh porous NPG layers could be efficiently utilized for electrochemical detection of glucose, wherein a high sensitivity of 135 μA mM−1 cm−2 was achieved in the presence of 0.1 M Cl−. More detailed mechanism on the anodic formation of NPG was proposed based on the the temperature of the electrolytes and concentration of KCl associated with the Au dissolution and Au oxide formation, and the electrochemical oxidation of glucose at NPG surfaces prepared by anodization in each condition is conformed. The straightforward and time-saving preparation of NPG surfaces will provide new opportunities for the applications of NPG structures.