Chloride-free and water-soluble Au complex for preparation of supported small nanoparticles by impregnation method

•Small Au nanoparticles (<3 nm) were prepared on various supports by impregnation.•Chloride-free Au complex prevents Au atoms from aggregating.•Decomposition temperature of the Au complex is lower than that of HAuCl4.•The Au/SiO2 hydrogenates vinyl group of 1-nitro-4-vinylbenzene selectively.•The Au/SiO2 can be applied for adsorption of unpalatable aroma in drink.

A novel simple and easy impregnation method for preparation of small gold (Au) nanoparticle (NP) catalysts (<3 nm) deposited on various supports including silica, which is difficult to be applied for conventional methods, has been developed. Chloride-free and water-soluble precursor, Au complexes coordinated with β-alanine, were successful for the preparing Au NPs, which exhibited an average diameter less than 3 nm. Thermal behavior of the Au complex was investigated by TG-DTA and in situ XAFS. XAFS analyses and DFT calculations revealed a molecular structure of the Au complex to be square-planar coordination structure and mononuclear complex of Au3+. Lower decomposition and reduction temperature of the chloride-free Au complex prevented Au atoms from aggregating and from following growth of Au particles. The prepared Au/SiO2 showed high selectivity for hydrogenation of 1-nitro-4-vinylbenzene into 1-ethyl-4-nitorobenzene and good performance for removal of unpalatable aroma by means of adsorption of polysulfide molecules.

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