Au Loading Research Articles

Electrochemical immunosensor based on hollow Pt@Cu2O as a signal label for dual-mode detection of procalcitonin

As a reliable biomarker to evaluate the severity of sepsis, sensitive and accurate detection of procalcitonin (PCT) is essential. In this study, a dual-mode electrochemical immunosensor based on Au/ZIF-8 as substrate and Pt@Cu2O as signal label was constructed for the detection of PCT. By loading Au nanoparticles onto rhombic dodecahedral ZIF-8, the substrate (Au/ZIF-8) has large specific surface area and can immobilize antibody (Ab1) by Au–N bonds. Meanwhile, hollow Pt@Cu2O nanocomposite with excellent peroxidase-like activity and electrocatalytic activity were synthesized as signal label. In the process of electrochemical testing, Pt@Cu2O catalyzed the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and further promotes the oxidation of hydroquinone (HQ) to achieve the synergistic amplification of electrochemical signals. The proposed immunosensor detected PCT by amperometric i-t and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) tests with a good linear response and low limit of detection (i-t: 0.70 fg/mL and DPV: 0.40 fg/mL) in the range of 10 fg/mL∼100 ng/mL. The immunosensor exhibited excellent sensitivity and accuracy, indicating the potential application of this method for PCT detection.

Synthesis and Characterization of Titania Nanotubes with Au Nanoparticles

TiO2 nanotubes were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and modified with different amounts of gold nanoparticles by deposition-precipitation with urea. The catalysts were characterized to determine the effect of the presence of Au nanoparticles on the physico-chemical characteristics of the materials and their electron storage capability. Raman spectroscopy revealed the transformation of the trititanate structure into the titania anatase domains upon gold deposition. This transformation was enhanced by an increase in Au loading and the thermal treatment of the materials. The size of Au nanoparticles increased upon the reduction treatment. The presence of Au nanoparticles produced a slight narrowing of the energy bandgap of the titania nanotubular material and had an important effect on its photoluminescence properties, important for some practical applications. Photoluminescence spectroscopy showed that the presence of Au nanoparticles on the surface of titania nanotubes significantly delayed electron-hole recombination and increased the ability of materials for charge separation. Superior performance of Au-containing titania nanotubes was illustrated by the evaluation of their photocatalytic activity. Au-containing titania nanotubes showed enhanced photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methylene blue dye in aqueous solutions upon UV irradiation compared to the pristine nanotubes and the titania Degussa P25.

Two-Step Electrochemical Au Nanoparticle Formation in Polyaniline.

In this work, we use a two-step cyclic electrochemical process to insert Au into polyaniline (PANI). It was suggested previously that this method would lead to the formation of atomic Au clusters with controlleds number of Au atoms without providing morphological proof. In each cycle, tetrachloroaurate anions (AuCl4-) are attached on the protonated imine sites of PANI, followed by a controlled reduction using cyclic voltammetry (CV). In contrast to previous work, we demonstrate that the reduction leads to the nucleation and growth of an Au nanoparticle (NP) whose density and size dispersion depend on the Au loading in PANI. Adding more deposition cycles increases the Au NP density and size. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and corresponding energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) indicate a homogeneous distribution of Au elements in the PANI matrix before CV reduction, while Au elements are aggregated and clearly localized in the NPs positions after CV reduction. We further use Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) to quantify the Au uptake in PANI. The Au distribution is verified to be initially homogeneous across the PANI layer whereas the increasing number of deposition cycles leads to a surface segregation of Au. We propose a two-step growth model based on our experimental results. Finally, we discuss the results with respect to the formation of atomic Au clusters reported previously using the same deposition method.

Investigation of CO2 photoreduction mechanism over the Zn2V2O7/Zn3V2O8/ZnO Z-scheme system

CO2 photoreduction under mild conditions remains challenging, attributing to sluggish kinetics of complex coupling process of multi-electrons-protons and inefficient electron-hole pairs utilization. Herein, with Zn3V2O8 as a phase transformation material, we construct an effective Zn2V2O7/Zn3V2O8/ZnO (OVZn) Z-scheme system by partial decomposition of Zn3V2O8 into Zn2V2O7 and ZnO. Time-resolved fluorescence decay (TRFD) spectra investigation shows that the photogenerated electrons of Zn2V2O7 and ZnO recombine with the holes of Zn3V2O8, retaining more reductive electron of Zn3V2O8 for CO2 reduction. Moreover, in-situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy suggests that the heterostructure can lower the energy barrier of CO desorption by changing bridge-bonded CO to linear-bonded CO and optimizing the energy barrier of CO production. Moreover, Cu, Ag and Au loading on OVZn greatly enhance light harvesting and promote photoelectric conversion, producing much photogenerated electron-hole pairs for CO2 reduction. OVZn and metal loaded OVZn have better photocatalytic performance, showing application superiority on CO2 photoreduction.

Metal-Support Interaction in Gold Zeolitic Octahedral Metal Oxide and the Catalytic Activity for Low-Temperature Alcohol Oxidation.

Au nanoparticles are efficient catalysts for selective oxidations. The interaction between Au nanoparticles and supports is critical for achieving high catalytic activity. Herein, Au nanoparticles are supported on a zeolitic octahedral metal oxide based on Mo and V. The charge of Au is controlled by the surface oxygen vacancies of the supports, and the redox property of the zeolitic vanadomolybdate is highly dependent on Au loading. The Au-supported zeolitic vanadomolybdate is used as a heterogeneous catalyst for alcohol oxidation under mild conditions with molecular oxygen as an oxidant. The supported Au catalyst can be recovered and reused without the loss of activity.

MoS2@Au as Label for Sensitive Sandwich-Type Immunoassay of Neuron-Specific Enolase

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) has gained extensive attention as a reliable target for detecting small cell carcinoma of lungs. In this paper, an electrochemical immunoassay method based on molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is proposed to detect NSE sensitively. By an in-situ growth method, MoS2 and Au nanoclusters (Au NCs) were composited to form a MoS2@Au nanozyme, and then the secondary antibodies were modified. Primary antibodies were immobilized on amino-reduced graphene oxides to capture NSE. The flower-like MoS2 nanozyme provided abundant sites to load Au NCs and catalyze the decomposition of H2O2, which were beneficial to amplify an amperometric response as well as build up sensitivity. Under optimum conditions, the detection range of this strategy was 0.1 pg·mL−1–10 ng·mL−1 and the limit of detection was 0.05 pg·mL−1. This sensing strategy achieved the prospect of sensitively detecting NSE. Moreover, the prepared electrochemical immunosensor provides a theoretical basis and technical support for the detection of other disease markers.

Physical Characteristics, Blue-Green Band Emission and Photocatalytic Activity of Au-Decorated ZnO Quantum Dots-Based Thick Films Prepared Using the Doctor Blade Technique.

Nanoscale ZnO is a vital semiconductor material whose versatility can be enhanced by sensitizing it with metals, especially noble metals, such as gold (Au). ZnO quantum dots were prepared via a simple co-precipitation technique using 2-methoxy ethanol as the solvent and KOH as the pH regulator for hydrolysis. The synthesized ZnO quantum dots were deposited onto glass slides using a simple doctor blade technique. Subsequently, the films were decorated with gold nanoparticles of different sizes using a drop-casting method. The resultant films were characterized via various strategies to obtain structural, optical, morphological, and particle size information. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveals the formation of the hexagonal crystal structure of ZnO. Upon Au nanoparticles loading, peaks due to gold are also observed. The optical properties study shows a slight change in the band gap due to Au loading. Nanoscale sizes of particles have been confirmed through electron microscope studies. P.L. studies display blue and blue-green band emissions. The significant degradation efficiency of 90.2% methylene blue (M.B.) was attained in natural pH in 120 min using pure ZnO catalyst while one drop gold-loaded catalysts, ZnO: Au 5 nm, ZnO: Au 7 nm, ZnO: Au 10 nm and ZnO: Au 15 nm, delivered M.B. degradation efficiency of 74.5% (in 245 min), 63.8% (240 min), 49.6% (240 min) and 34.0% (170 min) in natural pH, respectively. Such films can be helpful in conventional catalysis, photocatalysis, gas sensing, biosensing, and photoactive applications.

Au modified Nd-doped In2O3 hollow microspheres for high performance triethylamine gas sensor

The Au-modified Nd-doped In2O3 hollow microspheres were prepared by hydrothermal method as well as UV irradiation reduction. Their microstructure and phase structure were characterized by SEM, TEM and XRD. The effect of Nd3+ doping and Au loading were discussed based on the results of XPS, UV–vis, BET. The gas-sensitive measurement reveal the In2O3 loaded with 2 wt% Au and doped with 3 mol% Nd3+ (2 wt% Au/3 mol% Nd–In2O3) exhibited the optimal sensing performance among Au-modified Nd-doped In2O3 nanocomposites. Compared with unmodified In2O3, its sensing properties are improved. The response to 100 ppm triethylamine is 61, 4 times of pure In2O3, along with improved selectivity, declined optimum operation temperature, reduced recovery time and good stability. Using Nd–In2O3 and Au/In2O3 as control samples, the synergetic roles of Nd doping and Au loading in sensing process were discussed. By the cooperation of Nd and Au, more oxygen vacancies, raised electric resistance and increased specific surface area are triggered, which improve the gas-sensitive performance of the sensor. The excellent sensing performance of Au-modified Nd-doped In2O3 nanocomposites makes it a potential sensing material for triethylamine detection.

Synthesis of a magnetic nanomaterial with core–shell structure for effective Au(III) recovery from solution with superior separation and one-step reduction

To synthesize a novel magnetic nanomaterial for effective Au(III) recovery from the aqueous phase with excellent capability, superior selectivity, one-step reduction and ease of separation after loading Au(III) still remains a huge challenge. In this study, a magnetic nanomaterial (γ-Fe2O3@PDA-NAM) with a core–shell structure was synthesized for effective Au(III) recovery by sorption. The maximum Au(III) sorption capacity by γ-Fe2O3@PDA-NAM reached 2910 mg/g at pH = 6.10 ± 0.15, 44.29 times that by γ-Fe2O3 (65.7 mg/g). Its Au(III) sorption efficiency was over 97.75% at very low concentrations (i.e., 5.5 × 10-4 and 5.5 × 10-5 mg/mL). TEM, XPS and FTIR analysis verified that excellent Au(III) recovery by γ-Fe2O3@PDA-NAM resulted from N/S-containing soft base moieties introduced to different layers. N and/or S elements at these sites provided lone pair electrons to Au(III) to form stable coordination bond. Meanwhile, the hydrogen bond between O-containing (–OH, -C=O) and N-containing (-C-N, -N(-C)-N-, -C=N) moieties on γ-Fe2O3@PDA-NAM and –OH on the main speciations of Au(III) (AuCl3(OH)-, AuCl2(OH)2-, and AuCl(OH)3-) also greatly enhanced Au(III) recovery. About 78.03% of Au(III) was directly reduced to elemental gold by -C-S- and -N(-C)-N- group on the tertiary amine structure during sorption. More than 98.84% of Au(III) was selectively sorbed on γ-Fe2O3@PDA-NAM at pH 4.0 even though Pt(IV), Cu(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), and Ni(II) were co-present at the same concentration as that for Au(III) (0.01 mg/mL). In contrast, sorption efficiency of other interfering ions was within 1.75–26.05%. A relatively poor sorption selectivity for Pt(IV) could be acceptable because it is also a noble metal.

Photothermal Conversion and Thermal Management of Magnetic Plasmonic Fe3O4@Au Nanofluids

As a sustainable and widely available source of clean energy, solar energy has great potential for solving the aforementioned issues. Nanofluids (NFs)‐based direct absorption solar collectors can convert solar energy into thermal energy, which has been widely applied in energy‐thermal conversion and wastewater purification. However, the low photothermal modulation efficiency of NFs limits the industrialization of solar collectors. Herein, the Fe3O4@Au composite structure is constructed using coprecipitation method. The effect of different parameters, such as Au loading, concentration of NFs, external magnetic field, and flow rate on the optical and photothermal properties of the Fe3O4@Au NFs and Fe3O4 NFs are systematically studied. The results reveal that the solar energy‐weighted absorption fraction of Fe3O4@Au reaches 97.54% with a low concentration of 0.0667 vol%. Besides, the heat distribution can be controlled using an external magnetic field owing to the magnetic properties of Fe3O4 in water evaporation devices. The evaporation rate of Fe3O4 evaporator and Fe3O4@Au evaporator is 1.8 and 2.3 kg m−2 h−1, respectively, confirming their excellent and stable solar energy harvesting ability. The prepared Fe3O4@Au NFs are a promising approach in efficient photothermal conversion and thermal management in solar energy harvesting.

Selectivity Regulation of Au/Titanate by Biochar Modification for Selective Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol

In organic synthesis, it is important to control the selectivity target product with high purity and reduce the cost of energy and equipment for separation. This study investigated supported gold catalysts on biochar-modified titanate-based nanofibers in order to regulate the catalytic performances by biochar content and surface properties. The catalysts were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, ICP-OES, UV-Vis to confirm their morphology, particle size distribution of Au NPs, crystal structures, oxidation state of Au and other key elements, real Au loading, and optical properties. In the test of selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde, the biochar modification could improve the selectivity toward benzaldehyde. Moreover, the influence of catalyst calcination conditions, reaction time, reaction atmospheres, reaction temperatures and solvent were systematically investigated. These results are useful for peer researchers in rational catalyst design.

One-pot synthesis of stable cationic gold species highly active in the CO oxidation confined into mordenite-like zeolite

The presence of cationic gold species is a key factor for the CO oxidation over the supported gold catalysts based on non-reducible metal oxides. The deactivation of such catalysts is mainly associated with the Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) sintering and the concomitant reduction of cationic Au species. Here we report the high catalytic stability at the CO oxidation of the cationic Au species confined into a mordenite-like zeolite matrix prepared by a one-pot synthesis method. The sample with lowest Au loading (0.32 % wt.) exhibited the higher catalytic performance and stability during CO oxidation. Detailed FTIR analysis showed that the CO oxidation on sample with low Au content (0.32 wt%) occurred preferentially via CO interaction with the cationic interface Au-hydroxyl (Au1+–OH−) species to produce CO2(g) via decarboxylation. In contrast, the sample with a high Au content (1.56 wt%) displayed lower CO oxidation ability, which was associated with a low content and less stability of cationic gold species. Proposed synthesis method permits to obtain in a one-pot way stable cationic gold species highly effectively for the CO oxidation.

Selective aerobic photocatalytic glycerol oxidation on Au/TiO2 with borate additives

Photocatalytic valorization is a sustainable approach for converting glycerol to value-added chemicals under ambient conditions, which remains challenging. Herein, using Au/TiO2 as photocatalyst, we report glycerol oxidation reaction in non-pressurized reactor with borate additives. The activity and selectivity of photocatalytic glycerol oxidation depends on Au loading, borate concentration and solution pH. Both superoxide and hydroxyl radicals are generated due to oxygen reduction and water oxidation by photoexcited charge carriers. Apart from coordinating and protecting the oxidized intermediates from further oxidation, borate additives are discovered to up-regulate the superoxide radical generation, beneficial for C3 products formation. In pH 12 solution, C3 products selectivity of 58% and 37% on liquid-phase and carbon basis respectively, was realized at 94% glycerol conversion under AM 1.5 G irradiation for 4 h. Our finding may help guiding future catalyst design for photocatalytic biomass valorizations, where a balanced oxidative power is needed to steer the reaction pathway.

Dual-functional reaction strategy boosts carbon dioxide reduction by coupling with selective benzyl alcohol oxidation on nano-Au/BiOCl photocatalysts

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction without using sacrificial agents remains a big challenge. Herein, we report a dual-functional reaction on the Au-decorated 3-dimensional BiOCl nano-photocatalyst (Au/3D-BOC) that couples photocatalytic CO2 reduction with benzyl alcohol (BA) oxidation. On the optimized 1.0% Au/3D-BOC photocatalyst, the CO production rate reached 0.17 µmol cm-2 h−1 under AM 1.5 solar simulator light source, and the BA conversion was 48.04% with benzaldehyde (BAD) selectivity above 99%. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate the decrease of the reaction thermodynamic energy barriers after loading Au. And various characterizations reveal the dependence of the interaction between Au NPs and 3D-BOC on Au loading, which is essential to separating photogenerated carriers and prolonging their lifetime. On this basis, the reaction pathways of CO2 photoreduction and selective BA oxidation over Au/3D-BOC were proposed. This work provides a new approach to promoting CO2 reduction and BA oxidation with high economic benefits.

Transition metals in Ni/GDC for the reversible solid oxide cell operation: Optimization of the Mo-Au-Ni synergy and further enhancement via substitution of Mo with Fe

The study focused on the elucidation of the synergistic interaction of different wt.% loadings of Mo and Au in Ni/GDC, with the objective to find their optimum content for enhanced rSOC performance. In addition, the promoting effect of Fe in Ni/GDC was stabilized via co-deposition with Au and there is for the first-time comparison among the transition metal modifications of Mo-Au-Ni vs Fe-Au-Ni. A series of samples was prepared, where the content of Au varied between 1 and 3 wt.% and between 0.4 and 1 wt.% for Mo. Physicochemical characterization took place with XRF, BET, SEM, H2-TPR, TPH2O and in-situ H2O-XPS. The effect of the transition metals interaction on the performance of SoA Ni/GDC was investigated via electrochemical I-V and EIS measurements in rSOC operation, by applying different pH2O/pH2 mixtures in the temperature range of 900 – 800 °C. It was found that high Mo and/or Au wt.% content, results in larger Mo-Au-Ni particles and affects differently the bulk and surface interaction of the samples with H2O, as well as the Rohm and Rpol values of the fuel electrodes. The modified samples were less prone to bulk oxidation by H2O, while they exhibited higher surface oxidation of Ni and higher amount of Ce3+, compared to Ni/GDC. On the surface of the optimum 0.4 wt.% Mo-1 wt.%Au-Ni/GDC: (i) Ni was less oxidized, (ii) Au0 enrichment was more stable and (iii) Mo was more oxidized, overall affecting positively the Rpol versus the electrode with the higher loadings of 1 wt.% Mo-3 wt.% Au. The main degradation factor of the latter cell was ascribed to the increased Rohm. Finally, a new ternary 0.5 wt.% Fe-3 wt.% Au-Ni/GDC electrode is presented, which exhibited superior electrochemical rSOC performance and stability, compared to the optimum Mo-Au-Ni/GDC, highlighting the need for further research in the transition metals effect on SOCs.

Plasmon enhanced photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol using zinc oxide nanorods decorated with gold nanoparticles as supported catalysts under natural sunlight

The photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) was evaluated under natural sunlight using zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) decorated ZnO NRs catalysts. Microwave-assisted hydrothermal growth of ZnO NRs followed by photoinduced deposition of AuNPs on ZnO NRs was carried out to fabricate the ZnO-Au catalysts. The photocatalytic degradation of 4-CP with different AuNPs sizes and surface coverage obtained from varying Au loading on ZnO NRs was studied. 0.1 mM AuNPs concentration exhibited the best result, with a degradation efficiency of 97% for 10 ppm of 4-CP within 180 min. The degradation enhancement for the ZnO-Au catalysts was owing to enhanced absorption in the visible region. The visible-light-induced localized surface plasmon resonance property of AuNPs reduced the recombination and promoted the electrons and holes separation. The substantial change in the binding energy of the valance band maximum exhibited the charge transfer from AuNPs to ZnO NRs. Photocatalytic degradation of four different concentrations (10, 50, 100, and 200 ppm) of 4-CP was studied. During the photocatalytic degradation, various hydroxylated intermediates formed, namely hydroquinone, benzoquinone, 4-chlorocatechol, and 4-chlororesorcinol. The photocatalytic results indicate that the ZnO-Au catalyst is a promising candidate for environmental decontamination of organic pollutants in the aqueous media.

Novel Co3O4@TiO2@CdS@Au double-shelled nanocage for high-efficient photocatalysis removal of U(VI): Roles of spatial charges separation and photothermal effect

Effective spatial separation and utilization of photogenerated charges are critical for photocatalysis process. Herein, novel Co3O4 @TiO2 @CdS@Au double-shelled nanocage (CTCA) with spatially separated redox centers was synthesized by loading Co3O4 and Au NP cocatalysts on the inner and outer surfaces of Z-scheme heterojunction (TiO2 @CdS). The reduction rate constant of U(VI) by CTCA reached 0.218 min−1 under simulated sunlight irradiation, which was 6.6, 3.2 and 36.3 times than that of monolayer CTCA (0.033 min−1), CTC (0.068 min−1) and CT (0.006 min−1). The full-spectrum light-assisted photothermal catalytic performance can enable CTCA to remove 98.8% of U(VI) and degrade nearly 90% of five organic pollutants simultaneously. Detailed characterizations and theory calculations revealed that the photogenerated holes and electrons in CTCA flow inward and outward. More importantly, Co3O4 acts as a “nano heater” to generate the photothermal effect for further enhancing the charge transfer and accelerating the surface reaction kinetics. Meanwhile, the photogenerated electrons and superoxide radicals play a dominant role in reducing the adsorbed U(VI) to insoluble (UO2)O2·2H2O(s). This work provides valuable input toward a novel double-shelled hollow nanocage reactor with excellent photothermal catalysis ability for efficient recovery U(VI) from uranium mine wastewater to address environmental contamination issues.

Coupling the Piezoelectric Effect and the Plasmonic Effect to Enhance the Photocatalytic Degradation of Ciprofloxacin in Au-Ferroelectric Bi4Ti3O12 Nanofibers

In this study, ferroelectric Bi4Ti3O12 and Au-Bi4Ti3O12 nanofibers were synthesized by electrospinning and ion sputtering. The piezoelectric effect of Bi4Ti3O12 and the surface plasmon effect of Au were used to improve the photogenerated electron–hole separation and optical absorption. The results of the characterization showed successful preparation of the orthorhombic Bi4Ti3O12 nanofibers, in which the absorption band edge was 426 nm with a 2.91 eV band gap. The piezo-photocatalytic activity of the Bi4Ti3O12 was tested through the degradation of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin under three different experimental conditions: light, vibration, and light plus vibration. All of the ciprofloxacin was degraded after 80 min in piezo-photocatalytic conditions, with a piezo-photocatalytic degradation rate of 0.03141 min−1, which is 1.56 and 3.88 times, respectively, that of photocatalysis and piezo-catalysis. After loading Au on the Bi4Ti3O12, the degradation efficiency was improved under all three conditions, and the piezoelectric photocatalytic efficiency of Au-Bi4Ti3O12 for ciprofloxacin degradation was able to reach 100% in 60 min with a piezo-photocatalytic degradation rate of 0.06157 min−1. The results of the photocurrent and impedance tests indicated that the photocurrent density of Bi4Ti3O12 nanofibers loaded with Au is increased from 5.08 × 10−7 A/cm2 to 8.17 × 10−6 A/cm2, which is 16.08 times higher than without loading the Au. This work provides an effective way to improve the conversion efficiency of photocatalysis to degrade organic pollutants by combining the plasmon effect and the piezoelectric effect.

Plasma catalytic removal of VOCs using cycled storage‐discharge (CSD) mode: Tandem effect of zeolite adsorbents and Au catalysts on complete oxidation of toluene

AbstractHigh‐silica zeolite adsorbents (ZAs) are employed for plasma catalytic removal of toluene with cycled storage‐discharge mode in this work. At 5 min discharge time of the discharge stage in air plasma (20% O2 in N2), toluene conversion attains 100%, obtaining 22% CO and 26% CO2 selectivities. After 20 min discharge time, the air plasma gives the selectivities to CO of ~30% and CO2 of ~60%. For complete oxidation of toluene to CO2, ZA and Au catalysts are combined and a tandem effect of in‐plasma ZA and postplasma Au catalysts is achieved, featuring nearly 100% CO2 selectivity at 100% toluene conversion. Dependences of the tandem effect on Au loading and space velocity ratio of ZA to Au catalyst are investigated.

Sensing Properties of g-C3N4/Au Nanocomposite for Organic Vapor Detection

Alleviating the increasingly critical environmental pollution problems entails the sensing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as a hazardous factor for human health wherein the development of gas sensor platforms offers an efficient strategy to detect such noxious gases. Nanomaterials, particularly carbon-based nanocomposites, are desired sensing compounds for gas detection owing to their unique properties, namely a facile and affordable synthesis process, high surface area, great selectivity, and possibility of working at room temperature. To achieve that objective, g-C3N4 (graphitic carbon nitride) was prepared from urea deploying simple heating. The ensuing porous nanosheets of g-C3N4 were utilized as a substrate for loading Au nanoparticles, which were synthesized by the laser ablation method. g-C3N4 presented a sensing sensitivity toward organic vapors, namely methanol, ethanol, and acetone vapor gases, which were significantly augmented in the presence of Au nanoparticles. Specifically, the as-prepared nanocomposite performed well with regard to the sensing of methanol vapor gas and offers a unique strategy and highly promising sensing compound for electronic and electrochemical applications.