Bioinspired Pd-Cu Alloy Nanoparticles as Accept Agent for Dye Degradation Performances

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Catalysis

Background:

• Dye degradation is crucial for organic decomposition.
• Palladium (Pd) based catalysts are vital, with surface properties dictating applications.
• Developing efficient and stable catalysts is an ongoing challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize novel bimetallic palladium-copper (Pd-Cu) alloy nanoparticles (NPs).
• To evaluate the catalytic performance of Pd-Cu NPs in dye degradation and 4-nitrophenol reduction.
• To assess the biocompatibility and stability of the synthesized nanoparticles.

Main Methods:

• Co-reduction of copper(II) acetylacetonate and palladium(II) hexafluoroacetylacetonate using sodium borohydride and glutathione.
• Structural analysis using techniques to confirm uniform distribution of Pd and Cu elements.
• Catalytic activity testing for methyl orange, rhodamine B, methylene blue degradation, and 4-nitrophenol reduction.
• Biocompatibility assessment with cell lines (IMEF, HACAT, 239 T).
• High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment to investigate recrystallization and performance enhancement.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized ~10 nm super-hydrophilic Pd-Cu alloy NPs with uniform element distribution.
• Colloidal solutions demonstrated stability for over 30 days.
• Pd-Cu NPs exhibited biocompatibility with tested cell lines.
• Achieved efficient catalytic degradation of methyl orange, rhodamine B, and methylene blue.
• Demonstrated high catalytic activity in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to amines with reduced reaction times.
• Exhibited peroxidase-like activity in the TMB color test, outperforming individual metal catalysts.
• HIFU treatment led to recrystallization, reduced NP size, and enhanced catalytic performance.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized Pd-Cu alloy nanoparticles are stable, biocompatible, and exhibit excellent catalytic activity for various environmental applications.
• These nanoparticles offer a promising platform for developing efficient, environmentally friendly catalysts for dye degradation and organic transformations.
• The study highlights the potential of alloy nanostructures and ultrasound treatment for advanced catalyst design.