(Invited) Cathodic Corrosion of Polycrystalline Au Electrodes: Applications in Electrocatalysis and Surface Spectroscopy

摘要

Faceting and nanostructuring of polycrystalline Au electrodes by cathodic corrosion in concentrated aqueous alkali metal hydroxide electrolytes have been studied systematically. Scanning electron micrographs show the formation of octahedral Au nanocrystals and triangular pits by using NaOH and KOH solutions, respectively. These Au surfaces with preferential (111)-texture and a unique nanostructure are of special interest for new developments and applications in electrocatalysis and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).