Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol Catalyzed by Platinum Nanoparticles Embedded into Carbon Nanocolloids

Abstract

This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of a platinum nanoparticles catalyst supported on a carbon nanomaterial for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol. Platinum nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of carbon nanocolloids in an aqueous solution. The reduction of 4-nitrophenol in an aqueous solution containing platinum nanoparticles embedded into the carbon nanocolloids was examined by UV-vis spectroscopy and LC-MS. The catalytic activity was observed as a function of time. The fabricated carbon nanocolloids coated with platinum nanoparticles showed superior catalytic performance toward the reduction of 4-nitrophenol than the corresponding only platinum nanoparticles. The carbon nanocolloids acted as a support for the homogeneous dispersion of platinum nanoparticles in an aqueous solution. The order of catalytic effect according to the mole concentration of platinum nanoparticles was as follows: 0.50 mM > 0.25 mM > 0.13 mM > 0.06 mM > 0.03 mM. The nature of the resulting carbon nanocolloids coated with the platinum nanoparticles was characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy.