Electroless-deposition of AuPd alloy on Prussian blue derived Hematite/AuPd catalyst: Synergistic effect and potent reusable catalyst for treating environment pollutants

Abstract

Electroless-deposition of bi-metallic AuPd alloy nanoparticles (5–10 nm) on Prussian blue (PB) cubes with uniform composition and size are prepared using a galvanic displacement reaction. In this study, such galvanic displacement reaction routes deed the different redox potentials of three elements (Fe, Au, and Pd) to buoy up their deposition between each other. In comparison with the previous study for the PB/Au system, verdicts in this study enlighten the significant features, possessions, and etiquettes required to form exothermic bi-metallic AuPd alloy nanoparticles onto the PB surface. The Hematite/AuPd catalyst is derived by annealing PB/AuCN–PdCN in the presence of air. During heat treatment, AuPd alloy nanoparticles anchored over the PB surface were become embedded into the Hematite crystallites and led to a core–shell structure. Such core–shell; AuPd-Hematite particles in association with “AuPd composition dependent synergism” reflects an efficient catalytic activity toward the reduction of the hazardous organic pollutant; p-nitrophenol.