Preparation and Characterization of Nano Gold Supported over Montmorillonite Clays

• Published in: IOP conference series. Materials Science and Engineering 2011-02, Vol.17 (1), p.012019-4
• Main Authors: Suraja, P V, Binitha, N N, Yaakob, Z, Silija, P P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Catalysis; Clay; Clays; Deposition; Fourier transforms; Gold; Metal particles; Montmorillonite; Nanoparticles; Nanostructure; Precursors; Reducing agents; Silicon dioxide; Spectra; X-ray fluorescence
• ISSN: 1757-899X; 1757-8981; 1757-899X
• DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/17/1/012019

The use of montmorillonite clays as a matrix, or as a host, for obtaining intercalated/supported metal particles has potential applications in catalysis and other areas. The gold nanoparticles were obtained from the most common anionic gold precursor HAuCl4·3H2O by deposition-precipitation (DP) methods. However, it is difficult to prepare nanoscale gold catalysts supported on silica surfaces with lower isoelectric point (IEP). Homogeneous precipitation method using urea also fails on silica surfaces. Reasons for the inefficiency of these methods are the negative charge of the metal precursor as well as the support surface and the high pH required for depositing gold nanoparticles. In the present work, we use glucose as the reductant in the presence of stabilizer for preparation of nano gold supported on montmorillonite clay. There is no need of increasing the pH of the solution to reduce the Au3+ ions. The prepared systems are characterized using various techniques such as using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), UV-VIS Diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) and Fourier Transform infra red spectra (FTIR) to prove the efficiency of the present method.