Facile synthesis of Pd@graphene nanocomposites with enhanced catalytic activity towards Suzuki coupling reaction

• Published in: Scientific reports 2020-07, Vol.10 (1), p.11728-11728, Article 11728
• Main Authors: Khan, Mujeeb, Shaik, Mohammed Rafi, Adil, Syed Farooq, Kuniyil, Mufsir, Ashraf, Muhammad, Frerichs, Hajo, Sarif, Massih Ahmad, Siddiqui, Mohammed Rafiq H., Al–Warthan, Abdulrahman, Labis, Joselito P., Islam, Mohammad Shahidul, Tremel, Wolfgang, Tahir, Muhammad Nawaz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 639/301; 639/638; 639/925; Amino groups; Binding sites; Chemical bonds; Fourier transforms; Gas chromatography; Graphene; Halides; Humanities and Social Sciences; multidisciplinary; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Palladium; Photoelectron spectroscopy; Pyrene; Raman spectroscopy; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; Transmission electron microscopy; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68124-w

A facile and chemical specific method to synthesize highly reduced graphene oxide (HRG) and Pd (HRG@Pd) nanocomposite is presented. The HRG surfaces are tailored with amine groups using 1-aminopyrene (1-AP) as functionalizing molecules. The aromatic rings of 1-AP sit on the basal planes of HRG through π–π interactions, leaving amino groups outwards (similar like self-assembled monolayer on 2D substrates). The amino groups provide the chemically specific binding sites to the Pd nucleation which subsequently grow into nanoparticles. HRG@Pd nanocomposite demonstrated both uniform distribution of Pd nanoparticles on HRG surface as well as excellent physical stability and dispersibility. The surface functionalization was confirmed using, ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infra-red and Raman spectroscopy. The size and distribution of Pd nanoparticles on the HRG and crystallinity were confirmed using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The catalytic efficiency of highly reduced graphene oxide-pyrene-palladium nanocomposite (HRG-Py-Pd) is tested towards the Suzuki coupling reactions of various aryl halides. The kinetics of the catalytic reaction (Suzuki coupling) using HRG-Py-Pd nanocomposite was monitored using gas chromatography (GC).