Journal of Physical Chemistry & Biophysics
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0398
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2161-0398
+44 1478 350008
Teko W Napporn, Seydou Hebie, Yaovi Holade and Kouakou Boniface Kokoh
University of Poitiers, France
University of Grenoble Alpes, France
University of Montpellier, France
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Phys Chem Biophys
Gold at nanoscale fascinated scientists who developed important research topics over physics, chemistry, medicine and biotechnology. The last three decades, various innovative investigations emerged for determining the role of size, the morphology on the unexpected properties observed for gold at nanoscale. In electrocatalysis, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were often used to understand the intrinsic relationship between their size, morphology and activity towards two main reactions: (i) the electrooxidation of organic molecules that have a great interest as fuel in fuel cell applications, and (ii) the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Electrocatalysis investigations on support-less gold nano-rods have shown that it is a challenge to study the intrinsic properties of their surface through their interaction with a reactive molecule. Our recent results on gold nanospheres revealed that the size of these nanomaterials plays a key role in their electrochemical response. Therefore, spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNSs) with a mean diameter from 4 to 15 nm were successfully synthesized. UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and underpotential deposition of lead (UPD) were used for determining their morphology, size and approaching their surface crystallographic structure. UPD of lead reveals that their crystallographic facets are affected by their size and the growth process. In alkaline medium, the oxidation of glucose was used to evaluate their electro-activity. As results, small AuNSs exhibited drastic increase of catalytic activity (fig. 1). This feature might result in the high specific area and reactivity of the surface electron induced by their small size. The study of the reaction mechanism was investigated by in situ Fourier transform infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Gluconolactone and gluconate were identified respectively as the intermediate and the final reaction product of the glucose electro-oxidation.
Teko W Napporn is a Researcher of French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and also an Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Advanced Sciences of Yokohama National University. He is developing nanostructured electrocatalysts for energy conversion (Fuel cells) and storage (batteries and water electrolysis). His research topics deal with the surface structural effect in electrochemistry at electrified solid-liquid interfaces, hybrid biofuel cells. He is also involved in the development of single chamber solid oxide fuel cell.