In-situ green synthesis of highly active GSH-capped Pt-Au-Ag-hybrid nanoclusters

Recently much attention has been paid to the application of metal hybrid nanoparticles in industrial catalytic fields because of their super-efficient catalytic activity and attractive properties. We explored a novel strategy to prepare GSH-capped Pt-Au-Ag-hybrid nanoclusters through the synergistic effect between ascorbic acid (VC) and glutathione (GSH) with chloroplatinic acid, chloroauric acid, and silver nitrate as precursors. The potential utilization of as-prepared GSH-capped Pt-Au-Ag-hybrid nanoclusters for catalytic applications has been evaluated through the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) with NaBH4; we obtained the kinetic data by monitoring with UV-Vis spectroscopy. Our results illustrate that GSH-capped Pt-Au-Ag-hybrid nanoclusters could facilitate the process of reduction of 4-NP in a way that is unprecedented. This approach may offer a novel, non-cytotoxicity, efficient catalyst for industry.