This study is focused on the preparation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) supported carbon (C) and nitrogen-doped activated carbon (N-doped C) nanocomposites and their application for the electro-oxidation of glucose. The AuNPs/N-doped C nanocomposite has been prepared by a two-step process. At first, activated wood-based carbon has been prepared from alder charcoal and doped with nitrogen by pyrolyzing samples at a temperature of 800 °C in the presence of dicyandiamide (DCDA). Further, the AuNPs have been deposited on the obtained N-doped activated carbon material or carbon using glucose and ascorbic acid as reducing agents. The prepared nanocomposites have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrocatalytic activity of the nanocomposites for glucose electro-oxidation has been investigated in alkaline media using cyclic voltammetry.
It has been determined that the AuNPs/N-doped C and AuNPs/C nanocomposites had a higher catalytic activity for the electro-oxidation of glucose than the pure Au or carbon and N-doped carbon alone, indicating the synergistic effect of AuNPs and N-doped carbon or carbon. Moreover, the highest activity shows the AuNPs supported N-doped carbon as compared with that of AuNPs supported carbon.