The influence of gold nanoparticles on the electroactivity of nickel tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine

Abstract

We report on the electrodeposition of gold nanoparticles ( AuNPs ) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) followed by deposition of nickel tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine ( NiTSPc ) film by electropolymerization (poly- NiTSPc -GCE) to form Poly- NiTSPc / AuNPs -GCE. The presence of the gold nanoparticles caused a lowering of the anodic and cathodic peak separation (ΔE p ) of ferricyanide from 126 mV on poly- NiTSPc to 110 mV on poly- NiTSPc / AuNPs . The electrooxidation of nitrite improved on modified electrodes compared to GCE, with the latter giving E p = 0.78 V and the modified electrodes gave E p = 0.62 V or 0.61 V. Poly- NiTSPc / AuNPs -GCE had higher currents compared to poly- NiTSPc -GCE. This indicates the enhancement effect caused by the AuNPs . Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometric studies also showed that poly- NiTSPc / AuNPs -GCE was a better electrocatalyst than poly- NiTSPc -GCE or AuNPs -GCE.