Gold nanoparticles grown on a hydrophobic and texturally tunable PDMS-like framework. (20th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kacem, Marieme; Katir, Nadia; El Haskouri, Jamal; Essoumhi, Abdellatif; El Kadib, Abdelkrim
• Is Part Of: New journal of chemistry. Volume 45:Number 23(2021)
• Page Start: 10232
• Page End: 10239
• Publication Date: 2021-05-20
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; Chimie -- Périodiques; 540
• DOI: 10.1039/d1nj00274k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1144-0546

Abstract

Abstract : A sol-gel analogue of PDMS was used to built hydrophobic siloxane supports, while confining gold nanoparticles. Abstract : Mesoporous silicas are among the most suitable high-surface area solids to support small-sized metal clusters and nanoparticles. Unfortunately, the instability of silica in water constitutes a serious impediment for its widespread use and large implementation as a catalytic support for fine chemical synthesis and for biomass upgrading in the context of biorefineries. While end cupping silanols provides a way for delaying framework degradation, further investigations are needed to design more robust, water-resistant supports. Prompted by the success of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in surface coating and water-repellent technologies, we herein explore the transformation of triethoxysilyl-functionalized polymethylethylsiloxane – a sol–gel analogue of PDMS – into a hydrophobic disordered mesoporous MCM-41-type siloxane framework. The concomitant addition of a soluble gold precursor during the mesophase formation followed by surfactant removal resulted in the entrapment and growth of gold nanoparticles inside. Thermally induced evolution of the PDMS-like siloxane framework was further investigated both under inert and open air atmospheres. Gold accessibility was ascertained during the transformation of nitrophenol, a harmful water pollutant, into aniline as a valuable amine-based precursor. Owing to the virtues of the PDMS-like framework for slowing down water and oxygen diffusion, the catalysts preserve their activity even after 18 months of storage under an open air atmosphere.