A Three‐Dimensional Gold‐Decorated Nanoporous Copper Core–Shell Composite for Electrocatalysis and Nonenzymatic Biosensing

Abstract

Abstract Bimetallic core–shell nanostructures have attracted increasing attention due to their low material costs along with enhanced chemico‐physical properties in comparison with their monometallic counterparts. Here, a novel gold‐decorated nanoporous copper (Au@NPC) core–shell composite fabricated by a facile in situ hydrometallurgy approach is reported. Thin gold shells with a controllable thickness are homogeneously deposited onto the internal surfaces of 3D nanoporous copper via a spontaneous displacement reaction while nanoporous copper is utilized as a reduction agent as well as 3D template and substrate. The resulting inexpensive core–shell nanostructure exhibits significant electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of methanol and high non‐enzymatic sensitivity in detecting glucose.