Gold nanoparticles as electron reservoir redox catalysts for 4-nitrophenol reduction: a strong stereoelectronic ligand influence

Abstract

The stereoelectronic properties of the stabilizing ligands of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are shown to play a considerable role in their catalytic efficiency for 4-nitrophenol reduction by NaBH4, consistent with a mechanism involving restructuration of the AuNP surface that behaves as an "electron reservoir".