Au–Pt nanoparticles in amine functionalized MCM-41: Catalytic evaluation in hydrogenation reactions

Nano-sized Au–Pt nanoparticles (Au–Pt-bi-MNPs) have been synthesized by the simultaneous reduction of HAuCl4 and HPtCl6 by NaBH4 inside the channels of amine functionalized Si-MCM-41 (NH2–Si-MCM-41) at ambient conditions. These materials were characterized using chemical analysis, UV–vis, XPS, XRD, FT-IR, Surface area and TEM analysis. The size of these alloyed nanoparticles (bi-MNPs) were found in the range of 2–4 nm. These nanoparticles were evaluated to study their catalytic activities towards hydrogenation of aromatic nitro compounds. The catalytic activity of the Au–Pt bi-MNPs was found to be superior to monometallic Au nanoparticles.