Designing heterostructured core@satellite Prussian Blue Analogue@Au–Ag nanoparticles: Effect on the magnetic properties and catalytic activity

Abstract

We report in this article new magneto-plasmonic core@satellite Prussian Blue Analogue (PBA)@Au–Ag nanoheterostructures obtained by post-synthetic adsorption of a bimetallic [Au^I₂Ag^I₂(C₆F₅)₄(OEt₂)₂]_n molecular complex with ferromagnetic K⁺/Ni²⁺/[Cr(CN)₆]³⁻ PBA nanoparticles. While the size, shape and structural integrity of the PBA nanoparticles are preserved upon the formation of the core@satellite heterostructures, a dramatic change in the magnetic properties is observed due to the presence of ultrasmall gold–silver nanosatellites. Moreover, the nanoarchitectures behave also as multicatalysts towards the reduction of 4-nitrophenol with enhanced activity as compared to the pristine K⁺/Ni²⁺/[Cr(CN)₆]³⁻ PBA. Remarkably, these performances are found to be heightened upon light irradiation due to a plasmon-assisted catalytic effect. Such original PBA core@Au–Ag satellite architectures constitute a rare example in which an interplay between the two constituting materials leads to a reshaping of the magnetic and catalytic features.