Catalytic Oxidation of 1,2-Propanediol over Bimetallic Cu@Au Core/Shell Nanoparticles

Abstract

Bimetallic Cu@Au core/shell nanoparticles were prepared by the wet chemical reduction method using Tween as the organic modifier. The Cu@Au nanoparticles exhibited higher catalytic activity for the oxidation of 1,2-propanediol under mild reaction conditions than the sole Au nanoparticles. The Cu@Au nanoparticles with the mole ratios of Au to Cu of 0.015:0.985 and 0.035:0.965 exhibited high catalytic activities for the catalytic oxidation of 1,2-propanediol to lactic acid. A power function type reaction kinetic model well fitted the experimental data over the Cu0.985Au0.015 nanoparticle catalyst, r = –dn 0 /(dt·W cat ) = kC 0 0.49 P 0 0.39 , and the reaction activation energy was 34.1 kJ mol−1.