Catalytic Application of Gold Nanoparticles Electrodeposited by Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry to Glycerol Electrooxidation in Alkaline Electrolyte

A fast scan rate cyclic voltammetry was used to synthesis gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). AuNPs were electrodeposited on the surface of pencil graphite (PG) without using any additives in an acidic medium. The results depicted that the size of AuNPs varies by changing deposition time. The deposition time was changed by varying applied potential range, scan rate and number of cycles. PG and electrodeposited AuNPs were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results have shown that the smallest size of gold particles (20 +/- 8 nm) was deposited on the PG substrate with almost spherical geometry at scan rate of 12500 mV s(-1). The electrocatalytic activity of AuNPs toward oxidation of glycerol was assessed in the alkaline medium by cyclic voltammetry. The effects of scan rate, temperature, potential limit, concentrations of glycerol and supporting electrolyte were studied by cyclic voltammetry. Moreover, the activity of AuNPs in long-term conditions was investigated with chronoamperometry.