Catalytic Activity of Silicon Nanowires Decorated with Gold and Copper Nanoparticles Deposited by Pulsed Laser Ablation

• Main Authors: Michele Casiello, Rosaria Anna Picca, Caterina Fusco, Lucia D’Accolti, Antonio Alessio Leonardi, Maria Josè Lo Faro, Alessia Irrera, Sebastiano Trusso, Pietro Cotugno, Maria Chiara Sportelli, Nicola Cioffi, Angelo Nacci
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-01-01
• Series: Nanomaterials
• Subjects: Caryl–N coupling; reduction of nitroarenes; Si nanowires; Au nanoparticles; Cu nanoparticles
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/8/2/78

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) decorated by pulsed laser ablation with gold or copper nanoparticles (labeled as AuNPs@SiNWs and CuNPs@SiNWs) were investigated for their catalytic properties. Results demonstrated high catalytic performances in the Caryl–N couplings and subsequent carbonylations for gold and copper catalysts, respectively, that have no precedents in the literature. The excellent activity, attested by the very high turn over number (TON) values, was due both to the uniform coverage along the NW length and to the absence of the chemical shell surrounding the metal nanoparticles (MeNPs). A high recyclability was also observed and can be ascribed to the strong covalent interaction at the Me–Si interface by virtue of metal “silicides” formation.