Cooperative catalytic activity of cyclodextrin and Ag nanoparticles immobilized on spherical polyelectrolyte brushes

Abstract

Significance: Spherical polyelectrolyte brushes (SPB) loaded with silver nanoparticles (Ag-NP) were synthesized, and they were characterized in aqueous solution using TEM, ICP-AES and UV-vis spectroscopy. While the size distribution of the Ag-NP synthesized at a given temperature is quite uniform this distribution varies with change in synthesis temperature. The Ag-NP have a strong catalytic effect on the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol by NaBH4. The addition of α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) further accelerates this 4-nitrophenol reduction and modifies the associated activation parameters. This is attributed to α-CD complexing 4-nitrophenol in the vicinity of the Ag-NP surface and thereby aiding the catalysis. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers.