Electrochemical synthesis of AuPt nanoflowers in deep eutectic solvent at low temperature and their application in organic electro-oxidation

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs), called a new generation of green solvents, have broad applied in synthesis of nanomaterials due to their remarkable physicochemical properties. In this work, we used a unique strategy (adding moderate water (10%) to DES) to effectively prepare nanomaterials. Flower-like AuPt alloy nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using one-step electrochemical reduction method at a low potential of -0.30 V (vs. Pt) and a low temperature of 30 degrees C. In this process, the DES acted as solvent and shape-directing agent. More importantly, we used the electrode modified with the as-prepared nanomaterials as the anode to the electrochemical oxidation synthesis. The glassy carbon electrode modified with the AuPt nanoflowers was directly employed to the electrooxidation of xanthene (XT) to xanthone (XO) under a constant low potential of 0.80 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and room temperature, with a high yield of XO. Moreover, the synthesis process was milder and more environment-friendly than conventional organic syntheses. This new strategy would have a promising application in electroorganic synthesis fields.