Highly-Active Surface Reaction Over Ultra-Thin (111) Faceted Gold Nanoplates

Ultra-thin Au nanoplates (AuNPs) exhibit unusual electrocatalytic properties due to their ultimate two-dimensional (2D) electron confinement. Here we present the synthesis and the electrocatalytic properties analysis of ultrathin AuNPs. We found that the AuNPs offers exceptionally higher electrocatalytic properties in the redox reaction of a silent biological species of cytochrome c if compared with the Au nanospherical (AuNS) due to the 2D arrangement of (111) surface atoms and high-energy atoms at the edge as well as the presence of both transversal and longitudinal surface plasmon resonance. Analysis indicates that the AuNPs promote a highly dynamic diffusion control reaction that enables active redox species transport to the electrode. This feature should find extensive applications in organic reaction, sensing, and surface plasmon resonance.

Automated summary

Ultra-thin Au nanoplates exhibit exceptional electrocatalytic properties due to their unique two-dimensional electron confinement. The analysis of these nanoplates shows that they offer significantly higher electrocatalytic performance in the redox reaction of cytochrome c compared to Au nanospheres, thanks to the two-dimensional arrangement of (111) surface atoms, the presence of high-energy atoms at the edge, and both transversal and longitudinal surface plasmon resonance. This discovery suggests that Au nanoplates could be extensively applied in organic reactions, sensing, and surface plasmon resonance.