Preparation of coral-like porous gold for metal ion detection

Coral-like porous gold (PAu) as a sensing substrate for metal ion was prepared using a templating method with an aluminum precursor and stearic acid salts. After selective etching of the nanoporous alumina in bicontinuous phase, free-standing pure gold on the ITO substrate was obtained. The resulting materials showed submicron-sized pores in a pure gold network and high electro-conductivity as bulk gold. In a proof-of-concept test, we found that SH-modifed PAu/ITO electrode was good applicable sensing materials in low concentration of Hg(II).