Platinum nanostructures at the liquid–liquid interface: catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol

Platinum nanostructures were synthesized by reduction of the PtCl2(SMe2)2 complex at the interface between water and toluene at room temperature. Platinum nanosheets were obtained by using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a stabilizer. Dendritic tree-like nanostructures of platinum were synthesized by using aminoclay. In the absence of stabilizer, the resulting thin film contained connected chains of platinum nanoparticles. Catalytic activities of platinum nanostructures were investigated in the reduction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol and on the basis of comparative kinetic studies, the following trend was obtained for the effect of the related thin film catalyst on the rate of reaction: Pt/aminoclay > Pt/PVP > Pt/no stabilizer.