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Microwave-assisted synthesis of L-cysteine-capped nickel nanoparticles for catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol

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Abstract

A simple and efficient microwave-assisted procedure for synthesis of L-cysteine-capped nickel nanoparticles (cyst-Ni NPs) in ethylene glycol solvent was demonstrated. The as-synthesised NPs were characterised by ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectrophotometer, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The cyst-Ni NPs are proved to be excellent heterogeneous catalysts for the 100 % reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NPh) in the presence of reductant (NaBH4) within reaction time of 40 s. In contrast, Raney nickel in similar sample environments shows only 25.5 % reduction. The kinetic and energetic behaviours of cyst-Ni NPs were also studied, and the reduction reaction is determined to follow pseudo-first-order kinetics with a rate constant value of 0.115 s−1 and activation energy of 36.1 kJ·mol−1. In addition to its high catalytic competence, cyst-Ni NPs catalyst exhibits excellent recyclability with negligible catalytic poisoning.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the King Saud University via their Research Project (No. RGP-VPP-236). The authors acknowledge facilities provided by the National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, and the Interface Analysis Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 76080, Pakistan

    Nazar Hussain Kalwar, Razium Ali Soomro,  Sirajuddin, Syed Tufail Hussain Sherazi & Abdul Rauf Khaskheli

  2. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

    Ayman Nafady

  3. Department of Pharmacy, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University, Larkana, 77150, Pakistan

    Abdul Rauf Khaskheli

  4. Interface Analysis Centre, School of Physics, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TL, UK

    Razium Ali Soomro & Keith Richard Hallam

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  1. Nazar Hussain Kalwar
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  2. Ayman Nafady
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Correspondence to Razium Ali Soomro.

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Kalwar, N.H., Nafady, A., Soomro, R.A. et al. Microwave-assisted synthesis of L-cysteine-capped nickel nanoparticles for catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol. Rare Met. 34, 683–691 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-015-0475-8

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