β-Cyclodextrin polymer networks stabilized gold nanoparticle with superior catalytic activities

• Published in: Nano research Vol. 14; no. 4; pp. 1018 - 1025
• Main Authors: Zhang, Yong, Hu, Bing, Cao, Xiao-Mei, Luo, Liang, Xiong, Yu, Wang, Zhi-Peng, Hong, Xin, Ding, San-Yuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Tsinghua University Press 01.04.2021
• Subjects: Aminophenol; Atomic/Molecular Structure and Spectra; Biomedicine; Biotechnology; Catalysis; Catalytic activity; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Cyclodextrins; Gold; Hydroxyl groups; Immobilization; Materials Science; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Networks; Nitrophenol; Polymers; Porosity; Research Article; Substitution reactions; β-Cyclodextrin; Au nanoparticles; superior catalytic activity; cyclodextrin polymer; 4-nitrophenol reduction
• ISSN: 1998-0124; 1998-0000
• DOI: 10.1007/s12274-020-3144-7

Support materials play a significant role in heterogeneous nanocatalysis. In this work, β -cyclodextrin ( β -CD) was used directly as a monomer to construct polymer networks for gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) immobilization. Using the simple nucleophilic substitution reaction, β -CD based polymer networks ( β -CDP-N and β -CDP-C) were successfully prepared. Compared to β -CDP-C, the hydroxyl groups and N atoms in β -CDP-N played a synergistic role in immobilizing smaller Au NPs, thus leading to high catalytic activities. Notably, the apparent rate constant ( K app ) value for Au@ β -CDP-N in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol is 14.15 × 10 −2 s −1 , which shows a significant improvement over all previously reported Au NPs with solid supports under similar conditions. Considering the negligible porosity of the β -CDP-N support, we purposed a “capture-catalysis-release” model to explain the high catalytic activity of Au@ β -CDP-N. This explanation is supported by the guest-responsive properties of β -CDP-N. Moreover, the Au@ β -CDP-N is easily recycled and maintained its high catalytic efficiency after seven successful cycles.