Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 26 No 3 (2022): 562 - 570

 

 

 

 

EFFECT OF pH IN THE SYNTHESIS OF GOLD-COPPER NANOPARTICLES SUPPORTED ON ANODIC ALUMINIUM OXIDE AS CATALYST FOR THE REDUCTION OF p-NITROPHENOL

 

(Kesan pH dalam Sintesis Emas-Kuprum (Au-Cu) Partikel Nano Disokong pada Anodik Aluminium Oksida Sebagai Mangkin bagi Penurunan p-Nitrofenol)

 

Norizwan Nordin¹, Hanani Yazid^1,2, Nor Azira Irma Muhammad² and Abdul Mutalib Md Jani³*

 

¹Faculty of Applied Sciences,

Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

 ²Faculty of Applied Sciences,

Universiti Teknologi MARA, Perlis Branch, Arau Campus, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia

 ³Faculty of Applied Sciences,

Universiti Teknologi MARA, Perak Branch, Tapah Campus, 35400 Tapah Road, Perak, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author:  abdmutalib@uitm.edu.my

 

 

Received: 9 December 2021; Accepted: 6 March 2022; Published: 27 June 2022 

 

Abstract

Gold–copper (Au–Cu) bimetallic catalysts were prepared through chemical reduction with Cu and Au precursors at the pH of 3, 5, 7 and 9 and hexadecylamine as the capping agent to produce Au–Cu bimetallic nanoparticles (Au–Cu NPs). The colloidal Au–Cu NPs were then grafted onto an anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) support through spin coating. The AAO support was fabricated via a two-step anodization method at 80 V by using oxalic acid as the electrolyte. The Au–Cu/AAO catalysts were characterized through field emission scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and inductive coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy. The catalytic activities of the Au–Cu bimetallic catalysts in the reduction of p-nitrophenol (p-NP) were evaluated. Results showed that the rate constant (k) varied in accordance with the pH of the Au precursor. The highest k value of 4.6 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ was obtained with the Au–Cu catalyst prepared at pH 7. The better performance of the investigated bimetallic catalyst than that of the monometallic Au and Cu catalysts demonstrated the promotional role of the second metal in the reduction of p-NP.

 

Keywords:  Au–Cu NPs, pH, anodic aluminium oxide

 

Abstrak

Pemangkin dwilogam Au-Cu dengan prekursor Au pH 3, 5, 7 dan 9 disediakan dengan menggunakan prekursor Cu secara kaedah penurunan kimia dengan heksadesilamin (HDA) sebagai agen penutup untuk penghasilan nanopartikel Au-Cu (NP Au-Cu).  Dwilogam NP Au-Cu telah dicantumkan pada sokongan anodik aluminium oxida (AAO) melalui kaedah salutan putaran. Sokongan AAO telah difabrikasi pada 80 V menggunakan asid oksalik sebagai elektrolit melalui kaedah anodisasi dua langkah. Pemangkin Au-Cu/AAO dicirikan oleh mikroskopi elektron pengimbasan pelepasan medan-spektroskopi sinar-X penyerakan tenaga (FESEM-EDX), spektroskopi inframerah transformasi fourier (FTIR) dan spektroskopi pelepasan plasma-optik berganding induktif (ICP-OES). Penurunan p-nitrofenol digunakan untuk menilai aktiviti pemangkin bimetal Au-Cu. Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa pemalar kadar, (k) adalah berbeza bergantung kepada pH prekursor. Nilai k tertinggi iaitu 4.6 x 10^-3 s^-1 telah diperolehi daripada pemangkin Au-Cu yang disediakan pada pH 7. Daripada kajian ini, pemangkin dwilogam menunjukkan prestasi yang lebih baik berbanding pemangkin Au dan Cu logam mono, menunjukkan peranan promosi logam kedua ke arah penurunan p-nitrophenol.

 

Kata kunci:  NP Au-Cu, pH, anodik aluminium oksida

 

 

Graphical Abstract

 

 

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