Fabrication of Au-Nanoparticle/TiO2-Nanotubes Electrodes Using Electrochemical Methods and Their Application for Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Hydroquinone

Gold nanoparticle (Au-NPs)-Titanium oxide nanotube (TiO2-NTs) electrodes are prepared by using galvanic deposition of gold nanoparticles on TiO2-NTs electrodes as support. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy results indicate that nanotubular TiO2 layers consist of individual tubes of about 60-90 nm diameters and gold nanoparticles are well-dispersed on the surface of TiO2-NTs support. The electrooxidation of hydroquinone of Au-NPs/TiO2-NTs electrodes is investigated by different electrochemical methods. Au-NPs/TiO2-NTs electrode can be used repeatedly and exhibits stable electrocatalytic activity for the hydroquinone oxidation. Also, determination of hydroquinone in skin cream using this electrode was evaluated. Results were found to be satisfactory and no matrix effects are observed during the determination of hydroquinone content of the "skin cream" samples.