Gold nanoparticles encapsulated in porous carbon spheres with high surface areas (~ 800 m2 g-1) have been synthesized using a one-step, template-free ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) approach. The catalytic activity of the USP Au/C was investigated by UV-Vis using a benchmark reaction � NaBH4 reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). The rate constant in terms of surface Au atoms is about ten times higher than the best prior literature report. Different from other supported Au catalysts, no induction period was observed for the USP Au/C catalyzed 4-NP reduction, which indicates that no activation step is needed for the Au nanoparticles in our catalysts to achieve high catalytic activity. The USP Au/C also exhibits high catalytic activity for the reduction of more hydrophobic nitroaromatics (e.g., nitrobenzene). This high catalytic activity of USP Au/C is mostly due to the high porosity and amphiphilicity (from FTIR) of the carbon support.

Gold nanoparticles encapsulated in porous carbon

246th National Meeting (2013)

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