RAPID SYNTHESIS OF AUAG ALLOY ON LDHS: HIGHLY ACTIVE CATALYST FOR BENZYL ALCOHOL OXIDATION

Abstract

This work is motivated by a desire to develop a fast, efficient and novel method to prepare LDH supported alloy nanoparticles which are known to have many potential applications especially as a catalyst. In this thesis introduces, two methods to prepare the gold-silver alloy nanoparticles (NPs) attached onto layered double hyrdoxides (LDHs); the methods differ primarily in the linkage of gold-silver alloy nanoparticles with and without the use of surfactant. Results of experiments on the AuAg alloy LDHs such as the monodispersity of the particles obtained and their controllability are presented. Discussion thereafter justifies the differences in monodispersity and controllability of the alloy LDHs prepared based on the proposed mechanisms of nucleation and growth of particles. The alloy LDHs synthesized were further tested for their efficiency in the practical application of alcohol oxidation process.