Synthesis of Co-Al layered double hydroxide nanoclusters as reduction nanocatalyst in aqueous media

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have attracted attention as green materials due to their catalytic ability in benign aqueous solvents. We here demonstrate the synthesis of colloidal Co-Al LDH nanoclusters with an average size of <10 nm via a facile liquid-phase reaction for the enhancement of the catalytic activity. To the best of our knowledge, the present LDH is the smallest Co-Al LDH with an extremely large surface area and stability in an aqueous solvent, forming a stable and concentrated colloidal solution as high as 40 g/L. We investigated the formation mechanism, and the catalytic activity of Co-Al LDH nanoclusters. The Co-Al LDH nanoclusters showed 47 times higher rate of the reduction of dye molecules in the aqueous media than standard Co-Al LDH particles with a micrometer size. LDH nanoclusters demonstrated here are promising green nanocatalysts for the aqueous reaction processes.