Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Mesoporous silica containing Au nanoclusters has been widely used in various fields owing to its desirable properties and functionality. This work introduces a facile method to control the size of Au nanoclusters within silica hosts. This was achieved by applying a reducing gas at a controlled temperature to obtain a narrow or broad Au cluster size distribution inside the silica host. The Au nanoclusters and their silica hosts were characterized through X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, N2 sorption analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The average size of the Au nanoclusters was 1.3 nm in the narrow-distribution sample. In comparison, the wide-distribution sample exhibited two cluster populations: 1–2 nm inside the pores and 5–30 nm outside the pores. Methylene blue (M.B.) photocatalysis was conducted under direct sunlight to evaluate the catalytic activity of these materials. Sample 1–Au–SBA-11, containing Au clusters averaging 1.3 nm, achieved substantial M.B. degradation within 90 min—half the time required by the 2–Au–SBA-11 sample. Such Au clusters of different size ranges have potential applications across diverse fields.
Source: Molecules
Authors: Tariq Aqeel, Ali Bumajdad
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
Awards: G130402937, G3467371941, G4644581469
OpenAlex ID: W4410030531