Fabrication of free-standing nanoporous silver by selectively dissolving gold from gold–silver alloys via a novel converse dealloying method

A novel converse dealloying method was developed to fabricate free-standing nanoporous silver (np-Ag). One remarkable characteristic of the new dealloying method is that inert component (Au) is selectively removed from Au–Ag alloys while active component (Ag) is left undissolved. Thiourea plays a key role in the formation of a free-standing porous Ag framework since it not only leads to anodic dissolution of Au component but also causes the surface passivation of Ag component. Because of the excellent electrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of trichloroacetic acid (TCA), the as-prepared np-Ag materials can be directly used as working electrodes to detect TCA in the concentration range from 2.50 to 25.0 mM.

► A converse dealloying method was developed to prepare free-standing nanoporous silver (np-Ag).
► The free-standing nanoporous silver (np-Ag) can be used directly as the working electrode.
► The np-Ag displayed high sensitivity and fast response for the detection of trichloroacetic acid (TCA).