Enhanced cyclic voltammetry using 1-D gold nanorods synthesized via AAO template electrochemical deposition

Gold nanorods were successfully fabricated by using polycarbonate membranes and anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes as growing templates under electrochemical deposition. The as-synthesized gold nanorods were polycrystalline with unidirectional direction along [111], having a uniform diameter around 100-200 nm and length of 5-6 µm. These gold nanorods were deposited on the gold-coated working electrode of cyclic voltammetry, where an enhanced current-voltage voltammograms were obtained. The enhanced sensitivity is achieved with the large electrocatalytic signals at amplified surface area using nanorod-modified working electrodes. Current-voltage voltammograms using ordered gold nanorod arrays are enhanced more than those using disordered gold nanorods. The results strongly suggested that the 1-D nanorods facilitated the electrocatalytic reactions due to enhanced diffusion occurring around these nano-structures.