Synthesis of ZnO and Au@ZnO core/shell nano-catalysts by pulsed laser ablation in different liquid media

We report the synthesis of colloidal solution of ZnO and Au@ZnO core/shell nanoparticles by one-pot nanosecond laser ablation (1st harmonic of Nd:YAG laser) method in different liquid media (Ultrapure water and Chloroauric acid). The structural, morphological and optical properties had been studied. X-ray diffraction analysis showed their hexagonal wurtzite structure while UV-vis analysis investigated the quantum confinement and surface plasmon resonance of the prepared nanostructured particles with significant changes in color behavior. Transmission electron microscopic analysis revealed the homogeneous spherical shape with an average particle size about 39 nm and 50 nm for Au@ZnO core/shell and ZnO, respectively. Also, it is confirmed that the produced nanostructured material in the case of chloroauric acid is core/shell structure where Au is the core while ZnO is the shell. In contrast to ZnO, Au@ZnO displayed more significant Chemical-catalytic degradation activity toward the degradation of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in only 4 min rather than ZnO that required 12 min for the same degree of conversion. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.