Issue 24, 2023

Urethane functions can reduce metal salts under hydrothermal conditions: synthesis of noble metal nanoparticles on flexible sponges applied in semi-automated organic reduction

Abstract

We report an additive-free one-pot hydrothermal synthesis of Au, Ag, Pd, and alloy AuPd nanoparticles (NPs) anchored on commercial polyurethane (PU) foams. While unable to reduce the precursor metal salts at room temperature, PU is able to serve as a reducing agent under hydrothermal conditions. The resulting NP@PU sponge materials perform comparably to reported state-of-the-art reduction catalysts, and are additionally very well suited for use in semi-automated synthesis: the NP anchoring is strong enough and the support flexible enough to be used as a ‘catalytic sponge’ that can be manipulated with a robotic arm, i.e., be repeatedly dipped into and drawn out of solutions, wrung out, and re-soaked.

Graphical abstract: Urethane functions can reduce metal salts under hydrothermal conditions: synthesis of noble metal nanoparticles on flexible sponges applied in semi-automated organic reduction

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
02 Dec 2022
Accepted
04 Feb 2023
First published
24 Feb 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2023,11, 12703-12712

Urethane functions can reduce metal salts under hydrothermal conditions: synthesis of noble metal nanoparticles on flexible sponges applied in semi-automated organic reduction

O. Gazil, J. Bernardi, A. Lassus, N. Virgilio and M. M. Unterlass, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2023, 11, 12703 DOI: 10.1039/D2TA09405C

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