Abstract
Graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxides (RGOs) show intrinsic electrocatalytic activity towards the electrocatalytic reduction of H(2)O(2). Combining these materials with gold nanoparticles results in highly sensitive electrodes, with sensitivity in the nanomolar range because the electrocatalytic properties of GO and nanoparticles are synergistically enhanced. Understanding the factors influencing such synergy is crucial to designing novel catalytically active materials. In this contribution, we study gold nanostructures having shapes of nanospheres (AuNSs), nanourchins (AuNUs), and nanobowls (AuNBs) combined with GO or electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO). We investigate the amperometric responses of the hybrid layers to H(2)O(2). The AuNUs show the highest sensitivity compared to AuNBs and AuNSs. All materials are characterized by electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectra are deconvoluted by fitting them with five components in the 1000-1800 cm(-1) range (D*, D, D", G, and D'). The interaction between nanoparticles and GO is visualized by the relative intensities of Raman bands (ID/IG) and other parameters in the Raman spectra, like various D", D* band positions and intensities. The ID/IG parameter is linearly correlated with the sensitivity (R(2) = 0.97), suggesting that defects in the graphene structure are significant factors influencing the electrocatalytic H(2)O(2) reduction.