Facile preparation of gold nanoparticles on the polyquinoline matrix: Catalytic performance toward 4-nitrophenol reduction

•AuNPs were dispersed on the polyquinoline matrix for the first time.•5% decomposition temperature of hybrid was found to be 643 °C.•AuNPs were obtained with an average particle size of 130 nm.•Good catalytic activity and stability for 4-nitrophenol reduction were demonstrated.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been introduced into polyquinoline (PAQ) matrix for the first time. For this purpose, 5-amino quinoline (AQ) and auric acid solution were used as a monomer and oxidant, respectively. Incorporation of gold nanoparticles into the PAQ matrix led to improved thermal stability: 5% of product was decomposed at 643 °C. Photoluminescence characteristics of resulting composite (Au@PAQ) were determined. Au@PAQ was also successfully utilized for the catalytic reduction of 4-nitro phenol (4NP) to 4-amino phenol (4AP). The reduction process was completed in only four minutes at 25 °C. Pseudo-first-order rate constant was estimated to be 3.05 × 10−3 s−1. The results were compared with the previous reported ones.

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