Trimetallic FeAgPt alloy as a nanocatalyst for the reduction of 4-nitroaniline and decolorization of rhodamine B: A comparative study

Novel FeAgPt alloy nanoparticles were biosynthesized via ultra-sonication using the root extract of Platycodon grandiflorum. The nanoparticles exhibited enhanced catalytic activities in the reduction of 4-nitroaniline (4-NA) to p-phenylenediamine with a significantly reduced reaction time and increased rate constant because of their high number of active surface sites. In addition, the same catalyst exhibited enhanced catalytic activity in the decolorization of an environment polluting dye, rhodamine B (RhB). The time taken for the complete conversion of 4 -NA to p-phenylenediamine was 25 min with an apparent rate constant of 10.06 x 10(-2) min(-1). Similarly, the catalytic decolorization of RhB took 15 min for complete decolorization of the dye molecules with a rate constant 25.60 x 10(-2) min(-1). The performance difference of mono, bi and trimetallic nanoparticles for both the reduction of 4 -NA and decolorization of RhB was also examined. These trimetallic alloy nanostructures with excellent catalytic efficiency can also be used for other applications. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.