Enhanced catalytic activity of Au nanoparticles self-assembled on thiophenol functionalized graphene

A new catalyst containing 1-2 nm Au nanoparticles anchored to thiophenol covalently functionalized graphene sheets (Au/TP-GS) was fabricated using a facile, synthetic approach. The details of the morphologies, size and dispersion of the Au nanoparticles (NPs)and the chemical composition of the novel catalyst were verified by systematic characterization techniques, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The resulting Au/TP-GS exhibited excellent catalytic activity for both the reduction of 4-nitrophenol and the photodegradation of Rhodamine B due to the synergistic effects between the TP-GS and Au NPs and the high utilization of the metal. The practical, efficient and facile in situ reduction approach to synthesize the nanocatalyst provides a more environmentally benign synthesis route to effectively produce low cost Au-based catalysts.