Fabrication of small L-threonine capped nickel nanoparticles and their catalytic application

A facile and green seed mediated growth approach for fabrication of well dispersed L-threonine derived nickel nanoparticles (Ni NPs) in an aqueous medium via a modified borohydride reduction method is described. L-Threonine molecules served to organize the nanoscale composites in the form of well dispersed Ni NPs. The basic pH 8.5 was found to favor the formation of spherical and well dispersed Ni NPs as shown in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs. Freshly prepared Ni NPs possess the nanoscale dimension of 1.68-5.06 nm, as determined from atomic force microscopy (AFM) and TEM data. The Ni NPs thus prepared were used for their catalytic potential in the reduction of congo red (CR) dye selected as a model reagent. The results revealed negligible reduction of dye in the absence of Ni NPs. Conversely the addition of only 0.2 mg Ni NPs produced 100% reduction/degradation efficiency. The used Ni NPs were recovered and reutilized several times for reducing CR without any loss of activity. The current findings are equally extendable for safeguarding the aquatic environment against the pollution caused by other dyes via a facile, highly economical, rapid and efficient reduction/degradation method based on the catalytic potential of Ni NPs. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.