Effect of surface charge and electrode material on the size-dependent oxidation of surface-attached metal nanoparticles.

Here we report on the size-dependent oxidation of Au nanoparticles (NPs) electrodeposited directly on indium tin oxide-coated glass (glass/ITO) electrodes as compared to those chemically synthesized and electrostatically or drop-cast deposited onto aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES)-modified, mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS)-modified, or unmodified glass/ITO electrodes. The peak oxidation potential (Ep) of 54 nm diameter Au NPs shifts by as much as 155 mV negative when deposited electrostatically on the highly positively charged glass/ITO/APTES surface and oxidized at low pH as compared to their oxidation on more neutral glass/ITO or glass/ITO/MPTMS surfaces at all pH's and on glass/ITO/APTES at neutral pH. Electrodeposited Au NPs on glass/ITO of similar size also oxidize at more positive potentials due to the neutral electrode surface charge. Ag NPs show a similar charge dependence on their Ep. Interestingly, the Ep value of Au and Ag NPs smaller than about 10 nm in diameter is independent of surface charge. The Ep of 9 nm diameter citrate-capped Ag NPs attached to Au, Pt, glassy carbon (GC), and glass/ITO electrodes electrostatically through short amine-terminated organic linkers depends on the electrode material, following the order (vs Ag/AgCl) of Au (384 ± 7 mV) ≈ Pt (373 ± 12 mV) > GC (351 ± 2 mV) > glass/ITO (339 ± 1 mV). The underlying electrode material affects the Ag NP Ep even though the NPs are not directly interacting with it. In addition to size, the electrode material and its surface charge have a strong influence on the oxidation potential of surface-confined metallic nanostructures.