One-Pot Facile Synthesis of Noble Metal Nanoparticles Supported on rGO with Enhanced Catalytic Performance for 4-Nitrophenol Reduction

• Published in: Molecules
• Main Authors: Xiaolong Zhang, Shilei Jin, Yuhan Zhang, Liyuan Wang, Yang Liu, Qian Duan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-11-01
• Subjects: 4-nitrophenol; NaBH₄; noble metal nanoparticles; catalytic reduction
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/23/7261

In this study, reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-supported noble metal (gold, silver, and platinum) nanoparticle catalysts were prepared via the one-pot facile co-reduction technique. Various measurement techniques were used to investigate the structures and properties of the catalysts. The relative intensity ratios of <i>I_D/I_G</i> in rGO/Au, rGO/Ag, rGO/Pt, and GO were 1.106, 1.078, 1.047, and 0.863, respectively. The results showed the formation of rGO and that noble metal nanoparticles were decorated on rGO. Furthermore, the catalytic activities of the designed nanocomposites were investigated via 4-nitrophenol. The catalysts were used in 4-nitrophenol reduction. The catalytic performance of the catalysts was evaluated using the apparent rate constant k values. The k value of rGO/Au was 0.618 min⁻¹, which was higher than those of rGO/Ag (0.55 min⁻¹) and rGO/Pt (0.038 min⁻¹). The result proved that the rGO/Au catalyst exhibited a higher catalytic performance than the rGO/Ag catalyst and the rGO/Pt catalyst. The results provide a facile method for the synthesis of rGO-supported nanomaterials in catalysis.