Catalytic applications of gold-based nanoparticles, either in the form of colloids or supported nanoparticles, have received vast attention in recent years. These materials are highly effective for the transformation of organic compounds to useful chemical products. Recently, the utilisation of colloidal methods has been explored for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles with controlled size and shape. We have developed gold-based nanoparticles where size, shape, composition and morphology (alloy or core-shell) have been tuned. Here, we present case studies where the influence of these parameters on resulting catalytic activity of gold-based nanoparticles synthesised by colloidal methods is evident. In particular, we will discuss (i) the oxidation of glycerol, a by-product from biodiesel manufacture, (ii) the oxidation of toluene using molecular oxygen and organic peroxides, (iii) synthesis of H2O2 via in situ processes, (iv) the oxidation of methane using H2O2 and the v) the production of H2via photocatalytic processes. The catalysts have been characterised using a combination of techniques, (i) UV visible spectroscopy, (ii) transmission electron microscopy, (iii) STEM HAADF/XEDS and (iv) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Gold-based nanoparticle catalysts for catalytic applications

248th National Meeting (2014)

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