Electrochemical stability of carbon-supported gold nanoparticles in acidic electrolyte during cyclic voltammetry

摘要: Abstract Cyclic voltammetry has been used to assess the electrochemical stability of gold nanoparticle-based electrocatalysts with differing initial particle size distributions in sulphuric acid electrolyte. The electrochemically active surface area (EASA), based on oxide reduction charge, revealed that electrocatalyst containing nanoparticles an number-weighted average diameter 4.5 nm was stable over 100 cycles. Conversely, 3.1 nm and 2.9 nm showed a continuous decrease EASA line TEM EXAFS data which confirmed growth particles during cycling. Importantly, we find no evidence suggest nature stabilising ligand nanoparticle synthesis, any effect nanoparticles. When anodic limit cyclic voltammograms limited below formation potential, were stable, confirming loss is primarily related dissolution associated Au-AuOx redox process. Interestingly, initially 0.8 nm nanoclusters had surprisingly low (these clusters appear not exhibit normal behaviour typical for larger nanoparticles), but still significant cycling as by XPS analysis.