FePd nanowires modified with cyclodextrin as improved catalysts: effect of the alloy composition on colloidal stability and catalytic capacity

HERRERA, ELISA; RIVA, JULIETA; APREA, SOLEDAD; SILVA, O. FERNANDO; BERCOFF, PAULA G.; GRANADOS, ALEJANDRO M.

Catalysis Science & Technology

Royal Society of Chemistry

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2022 vol. 12 p. 2962 - 2971

2044-4753

In the present work, FePd nanowires of different compositions, namely Fe85Pd15, Fe65Pd35, Fe55Pd45 andFe0Pd100, were synthesized by electrodeposition into the nanopores of alumina membranes. The sampleswere characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS, XPS, and magnetometry. The surface of the nanowires wasfunctionalized with a cyclodextrin derivative (βCDMOD14) to obtain stable aqueous dispersions. Acomprehensive study on the relationship between the alloy composition and the catalytic capacity of FePdnanowires (FePdNWs) modified with βCDMOD14 was conducted through the analysis of the rate constants(kobs) of the reduction reaction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol with sodium borohydride mediated bythe FePdNWs in water. The highest value of kobs was observed for Fe55Pd45 NWs, but the catalyticperformance of Fe65Pd35 NWs was similar to the previous one, in spite of its lower Pd content. Thepresence of Fe atoms and the synthesis method promotes the formation of an fcc phase in the alloy, whichshows higher catalytic activity than pure Pd, possibly because of a synergistic effect exerted by Fe. Thecatalysts can be easily recovered by taking advantage of their magnetic properties, to be reused afterreactivation with βCDMOD14.