Facile Green synthesis and characterization of copper nanoparticles by aconitic acid for catalytic reduction of nitrophenols

Abstract

In this study, a simple one-pot green synthesis of stable copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) using copper (II) chloride (CuCl2, 8.542 g/ L) as copper precursor, aconitic acid (17.411 g/ L) as a reducing agent and pluronic (0.5 g/ L)as a stabilizer was reported. The size, shape, and morphology of the synthesized CuNPs were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). HRTEM images revealed that the synthesized spherical CuNPs ranged in the size of 3–4 nm. These CuNPs were stable and evenly dispersed in aqueous solutions. XRD characterization confirmed the formation of CuNPs. Catalytic degradation activity of these CuNPs were evaluated by the reduction reaction of three nitrophenols (NPs), including 2-nitrophenol (2-NP), 3-nitrophenol (3-NP) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). CuNPs showed very high catalytic efficiency in the reduction for NPs. The mechanism of these catalytic reactions were also discussed.