Shape-dependent reactivity and chemoselectivity of nanogold towards nitrophenol reduction in water

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.jorganchem.2020.121361

Although the catalytic activity of nano-gold surfaces for the reduction of nitro compounds has been known, the effect of their shape has been rarely evaluated. Here, the synthesis, characterization, and application of both gold nanoworms (GNW) and gold nanospheres (GNS) are described. Both GNW and GNS were characterized using SEM, TEM, UV–Vis, FTIR, and XPS spectroscopy. The catalytic efficiency of GNW with an average dimensions of 2 × 250 nm (D × L) towards the hydrogenation of nitrophenol, a pollutant present in industrial wastewater, is higher (TOF 3675 h^?1) than that of spherical GNS (10 ± 1 nm), for which TOF is 1838 h^?1 in water using NaBH₄ as the reductant. The selectivity of 4-aminophenol is 100% for both GNS and GNW.