Synthesis and characterization of water-compatible noble metal and iron nanoparticles for catalytic applications

Krishna J.S.P Stephen, Tennessee State University

Abstract

Various types of noble metal (Rh, Pd, Pt, Au) based NPs have been synthesized in the presence of different polysaccharides (PSs) using the PS or NaBH4 as the reducing agent. Following their synthesis, the PS-stabilized nanoparticles (NPs) were centrifuged, dialyzed and lyophilized for further characterization and evaluation. The NPs were characterized using UV/Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy. The catalytic potential of the NPs was evaluated by studying their effect on the NaBH4 - mediated hydrogenation of alkenes. Various model organic compounds, cinnamic acid, cinnamide, shikimic acid and stilbene, were included in the research. The reactions were monitored using Reverse Phase-HPLC, equipped with photodiode array detection, or GC-MS analysis. By using PSs as the stabilizing agents, we generated metallic NPs that could be dispersed in water. Hence, the emphasis was placed on the potential applications of these NPs as catalyst for the reaction in an aqueous environment. In addition, the effect of the chemical nature of the stabilizing PS on the catalytic activity of the NPs was briefly evaluated. We examined the possibility that the presence of a particular PS would provide some selectivity towards the reactivity of the nanoparticle; analogous to the substrate selectivity of protein-based enzymes.

Subject Area

Biochemistry|Environmental engineering

Recommended Citation

Krishna J.S.P Stephen, "Synthesis and characterization of water-compatible noble metal and iron nanoparticles for catalytic applications" (2011). ETD Collection for Tennessee State University. Paper AAI1497844.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI1497844

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