Surfactant- and Ligand-Free Synthesis of Platinum Nanoparticles in Aqueous Solution for Catalytic Applications

The synthesis of surfactant-free and organic ligand-free metallic nanoparticles in solution remains challenging due to the nanoparticles’ tendency aggregate. Surfactant- are particularly desirable catalytic applications as surfactants, ligands can block access surfaces. In this contribution, platinum synthesized aqueous without surfactants or bound ligands. Pt is reduced by sodium borohydride, borohydride has a dual role reducing agent weakly interacting stabilizer. 5.3 nm characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy transmission electron microscopy. then applied catalysts two different reactions: redox reaction hexacyanoferrate(III) thiosulfate ions, H2O2 decomposition. Catalytic activity observed for both reactions, show up an order magnitude greater over most active reported literature hexacyanoferrate(III)/thiosulfate reactions. It hypothesized that enhanced increased density surrounding ions give nanoparticle surface, well absence blocking surface sites.