Novel procedure for the fabrication of gold nanostructures enriched in Au (1 1 0) facet orientation

This study describes a novel procedure for the fabrication of gold nanoparticles (nano-Au) atop of carbon substrates. The positively charged amino (-NH3+) groups (grafted at the carbon substrate) act as anchoring antennae for the negatively charged [AuCl4]− ions which are electrochemically reduced to produce the nano-Au honeycomb. Atomic force microscope (AFM) imaging provided a direct evidence for the successful fabrication of the nano-Au structures. Electrochemical measurements revealed the enrichment of the thus-prepared nano-Au in Au (1 1 0) facet orientation.