Reflection spectroscopy for the determination of Au nanostructure formation on carbon surfaces

Au electrodeposition has been performed on carbon electrodes to fabricate Au nanostructures on the working electrode of screen-printed carbon chips. The amount of Au deposited was characterized using the raw reflection spectra obtained by detecting UV–Vis spectrum reflected from the electrode surface. SEM images at different deposition time points provided evidence for the growth of Au nanostructures. The increase in deposition time led to an increase in the intensity of the spectrum obtained for both chips. The acquired optical properties of the carbon chips provide a promising platform for simultaneous optical and electrochemical measurements.