From Mono to Tris-1,2,3-triazole-Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles and Their Compared Catalytic Efficiency in 4-Nitrophenol Reduction

Mono-, bis-, and tris-1,2,3-triazole ligands are used for the stabilization of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and the catalytic activities of these AuNPs in 4-nitrophenol reduction by NaBH4 in water are compared as well as with polyethylene glycol 2000 (PEG)- and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-stabilized AuNPs. The excellent catalytic results specifically obtained with the tris-triazolate ligand terminated by a PEG tail are taken into account by the synergy between the weakness of the tris-triazole-AuNP bond combined with the stabilizing ligand bulk.