Block copolymer mediated generation of bimetallic Ni-Pd nanoparticles: Raman sensors of ethyl paraben and ciprofloxacin

In this research article, a highly simplified approach for the synthesis of nickel palladium bimetallic nanoparticles (Ni-PdNPs) is discussed. The synthesis method is of high novelty as it excludes involvement of any hazardous chemical and complicated laboratory set up. It is well known that generating a bimetallic nanoparticle involving nickel and palladium is a challenging task due to the difference in the reduction potential of the two metals E0 (V vs. SHE) for Ni2 + is − 0.25 V and Pd2 + is 0.95 V respectively. One pot synthesis method of this material with a biocompatible polymer (PEG-PPG-PEG) which is mediated at room temperature is reported here for the first time. The synthesized particles are of size < 5 nm i.e., quantum dot dimension and were characterized by various analytical techniques such as absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) spectroscopy, powdered X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy. The elemental composition was investigated using the electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) measurement. In this work we report the Raman spectral feature of such a novel material. Also, its utilization as a sensor for pharmaceutically important materials like ciprofloxacin and ethyl paraben is reported here.