Synthesis of Highly Active and Thermally Stable Nanostructured Pt/Clay Materials by Clay-Mediated in Situ Reduction

Novel and intriguing one-pot in situ method for the preparation of nanostructured Pt-clay materials under simple conditions is reported. In this synthesis, an inorganic clay mineral such as synthetic hectorite (Laponite XLG) or natural montmorillonite (Kunipia F) serves as a mild and effective reducing agent for Pt ions, which is uncommon for such a clay system, and also acts as an outstanding stabilizer for the resulting Pt nanoparticles. In aqueous solution, exfoliated colloidal clay platelets forms complex with Pt ions in the initial stage of mixing. Devoid of any organic dispersants or external reducing agents, subsequently, the Pt nanoparticles (3-6 nm) generated by clay-assisted in situ reduction of Pt ions successfully anchored onto the clay nanoplatelets. The Pt-clay material features a very high surface area (312 m(2) g(-1)) and has excellent catalytic activity, as was kinetically evaluated via the reduction of 4-nitrophenol with NaBH4. After drying, this remarkably stable nanocomposite is completely redispersible in water and displays extreme thermal stability (up to 500 degrees C). On the basis of these results, this synthetic strategy is anticipated to be a very simple, economical, and green approach for the synthesis of nanostructured Pt-clay materials.