Selective knockout of gold active sites

Abstract

(Figure Presented) It's a knockout! When the surface of gold electrodes is treated with hydroxyl radicals, the electron-transfer rates ks of electrochemical reactions involving radical intermediates are drastically reduced (see picture). This observation can be explained by the selective knockout of gold active sites associated with partially filled d orbitals. © 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.