Hybrid hierarchically structured materials combining breath figures and thermal decomposition of KAuCl4

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Vol. 624; p. 126766
• Main Authors: de León, Alberto S., de la Mata, M., Molina, Sergio I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 05.09.2021
• Subjects: Breath figures; Catalysis; Electron microscopy; Gold nanoparticles; Hybrid films; Hybrid films; Catalysis; Electron microscopy; Breath figures; Gold nanoparticles
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2021.126766

This paper presents the preparation of porous, hybrid membranes consisting of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) embedded in the surface of a polystyrene (PS) matrix combining the breath figures technique with a subsequent thermal treatment. The membranes were obtained by drop casting THF solutions containing PS and KAuCl4 in different concentrations (0.1–10 wt%) under high relative humidity conditions. This bottom-up approach allowed to have porous materials with controlled composition, due to the coffee stain effect driving the KAuCl4 inside the pores of the membrane. The formation of AuNPs was achieved by performing a facile and rapid thermal treatment to the membranes after they were fabricated. The AuNPs formation was analyzed by high-resolution electron microscopy techniques, allowing to depict their morphology, distribution and placement in the porous structures. It was observed that 1 min at 170 ºC is enough to obtain AuNPs confined within the pores of the membrane without altering the structure of the PS matrix. The functionality of these membranes was proven by studying the catalytic activity of the AuNPs in the reduction of p-nitrophenol (pNP). [Display omitted]