Analytical Sciences

Nanostructured Porous Electrodes by the Anodization of Gold for an Application as Scaffolds in Direct-electron-transfer-type Bioelectrocatalysis

Kento SAKAI, Yuki KITAZUMI, Osamu SHIRAI, and Kenji KANO

Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan

In this study, nanostructured porous gold electrodes were prepared by the anodization of gold in the presence of oxalic acid or glucose as a reductant, and applied as scaffolds for direct electron transfer (DET)-type bioelectrocatalysis. Gold cations generated in the anodization seem to be reduced by the reductant to construct a porous gold structure. The DET-type performance of the electrode was examined using two DET-type model enzymes, bilirubin oxidase (BOD) and peroxidase (POD), for the four-electron reduction of dioxygen and the two-electron reduction of peroxide, respectively. BOD and POD on the anodized porous gold electrodes exhibited well-defined sigmoidal steady-state waves corresponding to DET-type bioelectrocatalysis. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed sponge-like pores on the electrodes. The anodized porous gold electrodes demonstrate promise as scaffolds for DET-type bioelectrocatalysis.

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