ABC triblock copolymer-stabilized gold nanoparticles for catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2015.06.006
• Publication Date: 2015-06-25T10:46:31Z
• Authors: Yu Dai; Yong Li; Shengping Wang
• Keywords: 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology

Abstract Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with particle size below 10 nm exhibit high catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP). However, AuNPs are unstable in aqueous solution or an organic solvent in the absence of a stabilizer and a dispersion agent. In this study, we prepared highly dispersed AuNPs using the ABC triblock copolymer poly(ethylene glycol)– block -linear polyethylenimine– block -poly( e -caprolactone) (PEG–PEI–PCL) as the stabilizer for the first time. The preparation route is very mild, convenient, and reproducible. The mean diameter of AuNPs is approximately 8 nm with a normal distribution. The as-prepared PEG–PEI–PCL-stabilized AuNPs have high catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-NP by sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ) in aqueous solution. Compared with AB diblock copolymer PEG–PEI, ABC triblock copolymer PEG–PEI–PCL as the AuNPs stabilizer has significant advantages in stability and catalytic activity.