Green reduction of the gold nanoparticles on the surface of the zinc hydroxide layered by a novel one-pot method

In this present study a reproducible and facile approach to synthesis of nanocomposites based on gold metal nanoparticles (AuNPs) and layered compound is reported. Thus, zinc hydroxide-layered (here named as ZHL-layered), a layered inorganic material, was used as host for the deposition of the gold nanoparticles. We demonstrated that the presence of the ZHL-layered in ethanol chloroauric acid solution, at room temperature, is able in situ reduce Au³⁺ ions to the AuNPs, where ethanol was used as solvent and as reducing agent. Au³⁺ ions were reduced by solvent leading to production of AuNPs and formation to the acetaldehyde. Regarding the spectroscopic properties of the Au-ZHL materials produced, the UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy presented plasmon resonance band at 532 nm region attributed to the spherical morphology of AuNPs. Transmission electronic microscopy further supported these observations. This article shows that Au³⁺ ions can be easily reduced, without the use of external reducing agents, in the presence of the ZHL-layered being important contribution to the synthesis of novel nanocomposites. (author)