Green Synthesis of Bimetallic PdAg Nanowires as Catalysts for the Conversion of Toxic Pollutants

Abstract

The green synthesis of bimetallic PdAg nanowires which were created under ambient conditions and in the absence of any stabilizers and harsh reagents is herein reported. The straightforward synthesis involved a one-pot set-up containing only the HEPES buffer, metal salt and reductant. The PdAg nanowires were efficient catalysts toward the reduction of common and toxic nitrophenol pollutants. The nanowires exhibited high turnover frequency and were able to achieve total conversion of the starting material. The bimetallic materials were also superior catalysts relative to other materials reported in literature. Taken together, the method and material presented have the potential to be of great use and value to environmental catalysis.