Gold Nanoparticle-Decorated Diatom Biosilica: A Favorable Catalyst for the Oxidation of d-Glucose.

Diatoms are unicellular algae of enormous biodiversity that occur in all water habitats on earth. Their cell walls are composed of amorphous biosilica and exhibit species-specific nanoporous to microporous and macroporous patterning. Therefore, diatom biosilica is a promising renewable material for various applications, such as in catalysis, drug-delivery systems, and biophotonics.