Synthesis of gold nanoparticles and nanoclusters in a supramolecular gel and their applications in catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol and Hg(<scp>ii</scp>) sensing

Abstract

Seven gelator molecules giving supramolecular gels produced Au-nanoparticles and fluorescent, small Au-nanoclusters. Such Au-nanoparticle containing gels catalyzed the reduction of <italic>p</italic>-nitrophenol to <italic>p</italic>-aminophenol without NaBH₄. The fluorescent Au-nanoclusters acted as a Hg(<sc>ii</sc>) sensor.