Functionalized alkoxysilane mediated synthesis of nano-materials and their application

Abstract

Organically functionalized alkoxysilane mediated synthesis of metal nanoparticles has been studied in detail. The experimental findings demonstrated the followings; (1) 3-Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (3-GPTMS) acts as efficient reducing agent and converts many metal salts like AuCl3, PdCl2, and AgNO3 into their respective metal nanoparticles in the presence of 3-Aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (3-APTMS); (2) 3-APTMS acts as potent stabilizer, promotes the interaction of metal ions with 3-GPTMS, precisely controls the size of metal nanoparticles and also provides a suitable medium of nanoparticles suspension; (3) 3-APTMS significantly facilitates the stability of nanoparticles as compared to that made through conventional routes with common stabilizing agents. These nanoparticles illustrate functional activity for making nanocomposite and show size dependent enhancement in the electrocatalytic efficiency towards hydrogen peroxide and glutathione sensing. 3-APTMS also acts as an important reagent and precisely converts potassium hexacyanoferrate into Prussian blue nanoparticles in the presence of cyclohexanone.