Preparation, Characterization And Catalytic Applications Of Metal Nanoparticle-doped Filter Paper

Metallic nanoparticles have attracted tremendous interest due to their excellent chemical and physical characteristics, but the application of them in solutions is limited due to their poor stability and recyclability. To overcome such shortcoming, metallic nanoparticles need to be immobilized onto a carrier. In the process of searching for a suitable carrier, we found that the filter paper is a ideal carrier with cost-effectiveness, good mechanical properties and easy modification. Branched polyethyleneimine(PEI) was used as a template to synthesize metallic nanoparticles. PEI-entrapped gold nanoparticles(Au PENPs), PEI-entrapped palladium nanoparticles(Pd PENPs) and PEI-entrapped silver nanoparticles(Ag PENPs) were immobilized onto filter paper, respectively. The formed metallic nanoparticle-containing filter paper was characterized by various techniques such as SEM, TEM, EDS, TGA, UV-vis and ICP-OES, and the catalytic activity and reusability of the composite filter paper were also investigated. This paper includes three parts:First, the preparation, characterization, catalytic activity and reusability of Au PENP-assembled filter paper were studied. At first, the formed Au PENPs using PEI as stabilizers were assembled onto filter paper through electrostatic interaction. The assembly of Au PENPs with a mean diameter of 3.5 ± 0.9 nm onto filter paper was characterized via different techniques. The catalytic activity of the Au PENP-containing filter paper with a loading percentage of 1.4% was evaluated by transformation of 4-nitrophenol(4-NP) to 4-aminophenol(4-AP). We show that the formed Au PENP-assembled filter paper has excellent catalytic activity and reusability.Second, the preparation, characterization, catalytic activity and reusability of Pd PENP-assembled filter paper were investigated. The PEI and PdCl42- were absorbed onto filterSuch development of Au, Pd, Ag PENP-assembled filter paper may be applicable for the immobilization of other metal NPs onto filter paper for various applications in catalysis, sensing, and biomedical sciences.