Issue 15, 2024

Mechanochemical hydroquinone regeneration promotes gold salt reduction in sub-stoichiometric conditions of the reducing agent

Abstract

Bottom-up mechanochemical synthesis (BUMS) has been demonstrated to be an efficient approach for the preparation of metal nanoparticles (NPs), protected by surface agents or anchored on solid supports. However, there are limitations, such as precise size and morphological control, due to a lack of knowledge about the mechanically induced processes of NP formation under milling. In this article, we further investigate the BUMS of AuNPs. Using SiO2 as a solid support, we studied the effect of typical reducing agents, namely NaBH4, L-ascorbic acid, and hydroquinone (HQ), on the conversion of a AuIII source. XANES showed that HQ is the strongest reducing agent under our experimental conditions, leading to the quantitative conversion of gold salt in a few minutes. Interestingly, even when HQ was used in sub-stoichiometric amounts, AuIII could be reduced to ratios higher than 85% after two minutes of milling. Investigations into the byproducts by 1H NMR and GC-FID/MS enabled the identification HQ regeneration and the formation of its derivatives. We mainly focused on benzoquinone (BQ), which is the product of the oxidation of HQ as it reduces the gold salt. We could demonstrate that HQ is regenerated from BQ exclusively under milling and acidic conditions. The regenerated HQ and other HQ-chlorinated molecules could then reduce gold-oxidized species, leading to higher conversions and economy of reactants. Our study highlights the intriguing and complex mechanisms of mechanochemical systems, in addition to fostering the atom and energy economy side of mechanochemical means to produce metal nanoparticles.

Graphical abstract: Mechanochemical hydroquinone regeneration promotes gold salt reduction in sub-stoichiometric conditions of the reducing agent

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 nov. 2023
Accepted
21 mar. 2024
First published
26 mar. 2024

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2024,26, 11436-11444

Mechanochemical hydroquinone regeneration promotes gold salt reduction in sub-stoichiometric conditions of the reducing agent

I. P. L. Xavier, L. L. Lemos, E. C. de Melo, E. T. Campos, B. L. de Souza, L. A. Faustino, D. Galante and P. F. M. de Oliveira, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2024, 26, 11436 DOI: 10.1039/D3CP05609K

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