Sonochemically synthesized mono and bimetallic Au-Ag reduced graphene oxide based nanocomposites with enhanced catalytic activity

Abstract

Graphene oxide (GO) supported Ag and Au mono-metallic and Au-Ag bimetallic catalysts were synthesized using a sonochemical method. Bimetallic catalysts containing different weight ratios of Au and Ag were loaded onto GO utilizing a low frequency horn-type ultrasonicator. High frequency ultrasonication was used to efficiently reduce Ag(I) and Au(III) ions in the presence of polyethylene glycol and 2-propanol. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM-EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to analyze the morphology, size, shape and chemical oxidation states of the prepared metallic catalysts on GO. The catalytic efficiency of the prepared catalysts were compared using 4-nitrophenol (4..