Synthesis of Gold@Iron Oxide Core-Shell Nanostructures via an Electrochemical Procedure

Core-shell nanostructures have attracted considerable interest as a new class of nanomaterials due to the fascinating physical and chemical characteristics relative to their single-component counterparts. Herein, a facial and low-cost approach was reported for the synthesis of core-shell nanostructures. By using the citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles as seeds, the gold@iron oxide nanostructures were prepared via an electroxidation of iron nail at 1.0 V between the electrodes in aqueous solution. Parameters such as reaction time play important roles in growing different shell thicknesses of gold@iron oxide core-shell nanostructures. The appropriate shell thicknesses were further optimized to yield the surface-enhanced Raman scattering effects in Raman molecules.