Fabrication of nanoflower-like dendritic Au and polyaniline composite nanosheets at gas/liquid interface for electrocatalytic oxidation and sensing of ascorbic acid

We developed a facile one-step method to fabricate nanoflower-like dendritic Au and polyaniline composite nanosheets at gas/liquid interface by contact of HAuCl4 solution with aniline vapor for short time. Polymerization of aniline and reduction of HAuCl4 took place simultaneously at the interface, and the in situ formed interfacial polyaniline film confined the produced small Au nanoparticles (1–3 nm) and conducted the formation of nanoflower-like dendritic Au (20–50 nm). Notably, the Au-polyaniline nanosheet exhibited extremely high electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of ascorbic acid, and a promising electrochemical sensor of ascorbic acid was constructed based on it.

Graphical abstractThe assembled nanoflower-like dendritic Au and polyaniline composite nanosheets at gas-liquid interface possess extremely high electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA), and can serve as a promising electrochemical sensor of AA.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Novel nanoflower-like dendritic Au and polyaniline composite nanosheets ► Facilely obtained by self-assembly at gas/liquid interface in short time ► Simultaneous polymerization of aniline and reduction of HAuCl4 at the interface ► The nanosheets had extremely high electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of AA. ► A promising electrochemical sensor of AA was constructed based on the nanosheets.