Issue 33, 2023

The fabrication of bifunctional supramolecular glycolipid-based nanocomposite gel: insights into electrocatalytic performance with effective selectivity towards gold

Abstract

Recovery, recycling, and reuse of metal waste have been re-intensified in the current era to build a sustainable future. In this context, gel nanocomposites were formulated by in situ reduction of gold within the low molecular weight gel matrix of synthetic glycolipid amphiphiles without using any external reducing/stabilizing agents. This strategy aroused the interest in formulating gel nanocomposites with preferential uptake of gold. The exclusive advantages owned by gold nanoparticle (GNP) embedded hydrogel offer an alternative to decorate the electrode surface without physical deposition/plating of the catalyst. Formation of GNP within the gel matrix was confirmed by the SPR peak in the UV-Visible spectrum. The particle size of 5–7 nm with zeta potential value in the range of −30.5 to −41.4 mV displayed good stability of nanoparticles in the gel matrix. Due to the encapsulation of nanoparticles within supramolecular assemblies of gel, a noteworthy increase in viscoelastic strength was observed, whereas the gelation behavior, melting temperature, and original fibrillar morphology of hydrogel remained intact. This hybrid gel exhibited good ionic conductivity (2.36 × 10−5 S cm−1) with appreciable ionic transport, remarkable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) augmentation in reduction potential from 0 V to −0.12 V vs. Ag/AgCl as reference electrode, and excellent thermal stability in a wide temperature range. This green and efficient approach can pave the way for creating GNP-embedded hierarchical architecture that can act as bifunctional electrolyte/electrocatalyst material.

Graphical abstract: The fabrication of bifunctional supramolecular glycolipid-based nanocomposite gel: insights into electrocatalytic performance with effective selectivity towards gold

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
13 Jul 2023
Accepted
27 Jul 2023
First published
27 Jul 2023

Soft Matter, 2023,19, 6305-6313

The fabrication of bifunctional supramolecular glycolipid-based nanocomposite gel: insights into electrocatalytic performance with effective selectivity towards gold

S. A. Holey, P. Basak, S. Bojja and R. R. Nayak, Soft Matter, 2023, 19, 6305 DOI: 10.1039/D3SM00921A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements