Synthesis of stable Au-SiO2 composite nanospheres with good catalytic activity and SERS effect

Weina Wang; Zhen Meng; Qiuhong Zhang; Xudong Jia; Kai Xi

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2013.11.043

Synthesis of stable Au-SiO2 composite nanospheres with good catalytic activity and SERS effect

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2014 Mar 15:418:1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2013.11.043. Epub 2013 Dec 7.

Authors

Weina Wang¹, Zhen Meng², Qiuhong Zhang³, Xudong Jia⁴, Kai Xi⁵

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Nanjing National Laboratory of Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China. Electronic address: monica0520@gmail.com.
² Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Nanjing National Laboratory of Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China. Electronic address: mengzhen@nju.edu.cn.
³ State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Nanjing National Laboratory of Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China. Electronic address: chemzqh@nju.edu.cn.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Nanjing National Laboratory of Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China. Electronic address: jiaxd@nju.edu.cn.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Nanjing National Laboratory of Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China. Electronic address: xikai@nju.edu.cn.

PMID: 24461811
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2013.11.043

Abstract

For improving stability and efficiency of noble metal nanomaterials, a straightforward one-step method was developed to synthesize Au-SiO2 composite nanospheres. Monodisperse hybrid silica nanospheres that had anilino-methyl on the surfaces were prepared first. The as-prepared hybrid silica nanospheres were then used to obtain Au nanocrystal through the redox reaction of HAuCl4 and anilino-methyl. This approach led to a better utilization of Au. By adjusting the surface morphologies and the particle sizes, the functional nanospheres displayed different surface-enhanced Raman scattering effects of Rhodamine 6G. The composite nanospheres showed high catalytic activity and good reusability in catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol because of their active gold surface.

Keywords: Au; Catalytic activity; Composite nanospheres; SERS; Silica.