The electrochemical activation of glucose was studied at the surface of gold particles prepared either by magnetron sputtering or water-in-oil microemulsion methods. At lower potentials smaller sputtered electrocatalysts (i.e. with Feret's diameter lower than 5 nm) involved a remarkable activity, which was likely due to their electronic structures. It was suggested that the enhancement of the electrocatalytic performances at the surface of the electrodes composed of largest particles could be related to the formation of "sticking defects" in the nanomaterials. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.